Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.  2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.  3 So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands;  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.

…

“10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel.  11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”  And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”  Ezra Chapter 3:  Verses 1-3 and 10-11.

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Some teach or imply that everyone is good.  But, the sons of Israel did not think so:  “for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands”.  Verse 3.

In sharpest contrast, the sons of Israel attributed goodness only to the LORD:  “For He is good”.  Verse 11.

Jesus said:  “There is only One who is good”.  Matthew 19:17.

And, we also notice that the sons of Israel did not state that God’s lovingkindness was upon everyone, but rather “His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”  Verse 11.

We live in a time and age that pressures us to believe that basically everyone is good and that God’s lovingkindess is upon everyone.

While it is true that everyone receives good gifts from God like sunshine and rain, God does not cause these good gifts to be a blessing upon the wicked.

“18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!”  Psalm 73:18-19.

But, God’s lovingkindness is only upon His people, the true Israel.

“Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!”  Psalm 73:1.

If a wife asked her husband if he loved her and the husband replied:  “Yes.  I love everyone.”, we know the wife would not be pleased.

Likewise, Christ has a peculiar love, a special love just for His church.  Just as a husband should not love and give himself up for all women, but only his own wife, Christ only loved His church and gave Himself up only for His church, not for everyone in the world.  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,”  Ephesians 5:25.

 
In Christ’s intercessory prayer in John 17:9, we see Christ praying for only those whom God gave Him, not for the world:  “I ask on their behalf;  I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine;”

Christ laid down his life for only His sheep.  “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ”  John 10:14-15.

When we believe that Christ died only for us, His elect, not for the world, His love and substitutionary sacrifice is appreciated more by us.  We appreciate all the more His passion, suffering, and death, because it literally took away our sins, not for the world, not just possibly took away our sins depending on our free will or depending on whether or not we get and keep faith till our death:  “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;  The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53: 5.

This is summarized by “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

This special love for us, His chosen people, this special goodness, for us, His chosen people, is true reason for us to shout for joy.

So, let us not try to be like everyone else, but instead take comfort and joy in the fact that we are chosen by God for that special love and special goodness.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”  1 Peter 2:9.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city.  2 These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel:  3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;  4 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;  5 the sons of Arah, 775;  6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;

…

64 The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337;  and they had 200 singing men and women.  66 Their horses were 736;  their mules, 245;  67 their camels, 435;  their donkeys, 6,720.

68 Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation.

69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.

70 Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.”  Ezra Chapter 2:  Verses 1-6 and 64-70.

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Why are there so many names in this Scripture?

Why are there so many numbers in this Scripture?

God deeply cares about each person.

God deeply cares about each detail.

But, God is not like those who only watch and wring their hands.  God does not panic.  God is not anxious.  God does not even hope without accomplishing all His good pleasure.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 1.

“1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  3 Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him!  Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.  4 Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.’”

5 Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.  6 All those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering.  7 Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods;  8 and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.  9 Now this was their number:  30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 duplicates;  10 30 gold bowls, 410 silver bowls of a second kind and 1,000 other articles.  11 All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.”  Ezra chapter 1.

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

God’s sovereignty rules over all persons and all things.

In verse 5, we see an example of God’s sovereignty over all persons.  “Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.”  Verse 5.  (Emphasis added.)

In verses 7-11, we see an example of God’s sovereignty over all things.  There is emphasis of the exact number and description of each articles of the house of the LORD which were taken from the house of the Lord by Nebuchadnezzar who had carried them away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods, but which the LORD caused to be brought back to Jerusalem.

Other doctrine refuses or neglects to fully and properly teach God’s sovereignty, especially God’s sovereignty over all persons, preferring to teach alleged man’s free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine fully and properly teaches God’s sovereignty.  An example of this teaching is “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”  John 6:37.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 36.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place;  16 but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm;  He gave them all into his hand.  18 All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king and of his officers, he brought them all to Babylon.  19 Then they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its fortified buildings with fire and destroyed all its valuable articles.  20 Those who had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon;  and they were servants to him and to his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths.  All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah—the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.  Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!’”  2 Chronicles 36:15-23.

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God’s sovereignty is vividly displayed in today’s Scripture.

God raised up messengers to warn His people.  Verse 15.

God raised up the king of the Chaldeans to punish those who continually mocked His messengers, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets.  Verses 16-21.

God raised up Cyrus king of Persia to release His people from captivity.  Verses 22-23.

“6 “The Lord kills and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 “The Lord makes poor and rich;
He brings low, He also exalts.”  1 Samuel 2:6-7.

“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.

At the conclusion of my last devotion, I suggested that we meditate on the good things, and most importantly, what the good things teach us about the goodness of God.  Today’s devotion is a special devotion presenting my best verses and meditations from the Scriptures I read last week during my cruise vacation.

“I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has granted us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.”  Isaiah 63:7.

I read the following chapters:  Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Psalm 105, Psalm 107, and Psalm 111, one for each day from 12/8/15 through 12/12/15.  Here is a link to Psalm 103 which you can also use to read the other chapters –

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103&version=NASB

From these chapters, I single out the following verses to be the focus of my meditations.  After each verse, I add my meditations in italic font.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.”  Psalm 103:11.

As I stared at the great width of the seas and the great height of the clouds above, I thought:  “Who can count the number of God’s lovingkindnesses to us?!  Who can know how much of a blessing each one is?!”

“But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,”  Psalm 103:17.

Although it would be good enough to have God’s lovingkindness only during our days on earth, God also extends His lovingkindness to us in heaven, throughout all eternity. 

“And wine which makes man’s heart glad,
So that he may make his face glisten with oil,
And food which sustains man’s heart.”  Psalm 104:15.

Wine, like a cruise, is an example of something unnecessary.  It is lavish, but God provides it.  God is not that dour tightwad that some doctrine portray.  God is better than any Santa Claus.  “The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;  A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine.”  Isaiah 25:6.

“Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord.”  Psalm 104:34.

These good things are good presents.  But, most importantly, these good presents draw us to God’s good presence.  “I shall be glad in the Lord.” 

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.”  Psalm 105:1.

Too many preachers and teachers focus on the good deeds of man.  Rather than focusing on the good deeds of man, we are called to make known God’s deeds.  “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation makes known God’s deeds from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.   

“And He brought forth His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful shout.”  Psalm 105:43.

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”  Zephaniah 3:17.  What a God we have!  

“20 He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing.”  Psalm 107:20-22.

God heals us!

“2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:3-5.

“Who is wise?  Let him give heed to these things,
And consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord.”  Psalm 107:43.

“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.

Reformed Doctrine delights in studying the works of the LORD.

“He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate.”  Psalm 111:4.

We come to know the LORD through studying His works.  The LORD is gracious to His people! 

“…The Lord is gracious and compassionate.

“5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6 He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.”  Psalm 111:4-7.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 35.  My next devotion, God willing, will be next Sunday, December 13, 2015 after I return from my cruise vacation.

Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+35&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“18 There had not been celebrated a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet; nor had any of the kings of Israel celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did with the priests, the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  19 In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign this Passover was celebrated.

20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt came up to make war at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to engage him.  21 But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah?  I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry.  Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”  22 However, Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to make war with him;  nor did he listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to make war on the plain of Megiddo.  23 The archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”  24 So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in the second chariot which he had, and brought him to Jerusalem where he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers.  All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.”  2 Chronicles 35:18-24.

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As good as a king, King Josiah was, he still died, and he died sooner and he died in war less honorably, than we expected.

This is a good reminder that all of us are mortal and sinners.

“6 A voice says, “Call out.”
Then he answered, “What shall I call out?”
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:6-8.

“3 You turn man back into dust
And say, “Return, O children of men.”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it passes by,
Or as a watch in the night.
5 You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep;
In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew.
6 In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew;
Toward evening it fades and withers away.

7 For we have been consumed by Your anger
And by Your wrath we have been dismayed.
8 You have placed our iniquities before You,
Our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have declined in Your fury;
We have finished our years like a sigh.
10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years,
Or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow;
For soon it is gone and we fly away.
11 Who understands the power of Your anger
And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?
12 So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90:3-12.

But, there is hope!

“for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”  1 Peter 1:23.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:54-58.

And, God even gives life to our mortal bodies.  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  Romans 8:11.

God “… satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:5.

“30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”  Isaiah 40:30-31.

“11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 84:11-12.

While I am away, I suggest that we meditate on these good things, and most importantly, what these good things teach us about the goodness of God. 

“I shall make mention of the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, the praises of the Lord,
According to all that the Lord has granted us,
And the great goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.”  Isaiah 63:7.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 34.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+34&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.  2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.  3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David;  and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images.

…

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

…

14 When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord given by Moses.

…

18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.”  And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

19 When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

…

22 So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter);  and they spoke to her regarding this.  23 She said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24 thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah.  25 Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands;  therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”’  26 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus you will say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27 Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the Lord.  28 Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’”  And they brought back word to the king.”

…

31 Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.  32 Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him.  So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.  33 Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God.  Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.”     2 Chronicles 34: Verses 1-3, 8, 14, 18-19, and 22-28.

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“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 2:12.

King Josiah paid attention to the warning and humbled himself.  He “… made a covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book.”  Verse 31.  “Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the Lord their God.  Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.”  Verse 33.

What are we going to do with the warnings that we receive?

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;  just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:10-18.

What is this grace?  What is this knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

This grace and this knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are summarized by “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

This grace is a humbling grace.  “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP” humbles us to the extent that we give up all hope of ourselves being able to do right or even choose what is righteous and that we place our hope only in God doing everything necessary for our salvation from choosing us to preserving us.

This grace is a “God-choosing” grace, not a “man-choosing” grace, as taught by “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.

This grace is an “atoning grace”.  Although the atonement is limited in the sense that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died only for those chosen by God, the atonement is unlimited in the sense that Christ did everything necessary to secure their salvation as taught by “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”.

This grace is an “irresistible grace” as taught by “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”.

This grace is a “preserving grace” as taught by “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:4-10.

“20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
21 For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain.”  Isaiah 26:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles chapter 33.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+33&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.  2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.  3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down;  he also erected altars for the Baals and made Asherim, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.  4 He built altars in the house of the Lord of which the Lord had said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”  5 For he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  6 He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists.  He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.  7 Then he put the carved image of the idol which he had made in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;  8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them according to all the law, the statutes and the ordinances given through Moses.”  9 Thus Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel.

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.  11 Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon.  12 When he was in distress, he entreated the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.  13 When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom.  Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”   2 Chronicles 33:1-13.

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There was hope for Manasseh, even though he was very sinful.  And, there is hope for us too, even though we also are very sinful.

“1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
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.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.”  Psalm chapter 130.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 32:24-33.

“24 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill; and he prayed to the Lord, and the Lord spoke to him and gave him a sign.  25 But Hezekiah gave no return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud;  therefore wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.  26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles, 28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.  29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.  30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David.  And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did.  31 Even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his deeds of devotion, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.  33 So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place.”   2 Chronicles 32:24-33.

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“… “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  …  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”  James 4:6 and 10.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  Psalm 51:17.

God knows whether pride or humility is in our hearts.  God knows the secrets of our heart.  Nothing is hidden from God.

“1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:1-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Chronicles 32:9-23.

“9 After this Sennacherib king of Assyria sent his servants to Jerusalem while he was besieging Lachish with all his forces with him, against Hezekiah king of Judah and against all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting that you are remaining in Jerusalem under siege?  11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you to give yourselves over to die by hunger and by thirst, saying, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?  12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, “You shall worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn incense”?  13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands?  Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?  14 Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed who could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?  15 Now therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you from my hand?’”

16 His servants spoke further against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah.  17 He also wrote letters to insult the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against Him, saying, “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”  18 They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city.  19 They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, the work of men’s hands.

20 But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.  21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria.  So he returned in shame to his own land.  And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.  22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side.  23 And many were bringing gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and choice presents to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.”  2 Chronicles 32:9-23.

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Diversity does not save.  Sennacherib was correct when he pointed out:  “Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands?  Were the gods of the nations of the lands able at all to deliver their land from my hand?”  Verse 13.

But, Sennacherib was incorrect when he concluded:  “As the gods of the nations of the lands have not delivered their people from my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand.”  Verse 17.

Article 1:  That there is One Only God.

We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God;  and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.  Belgic Confession. 

And, This “One Only God” can save.  Although God could save everyone, He has chosen to save only His Elect, His people. 

Article 6.  That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it proceeds from God’s eternal decree, “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” Acts 15:18.  “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will,” Ephesians 1:11.  According to which decree, he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe, while he leaves the non-elect in his just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy.  And herein is especially displayed the profound, and merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in ruin; or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation.   FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

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, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written: “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.  FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE  Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.

“2 Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”
3 But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.”  Psalm 115:2-3.

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it;  and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”  Jeremiah 31:33.

“O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.”  Psalm 115:9.