Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:18-37.

“When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers.  He said to his father, “My head, my head.”  And he said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”  When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died.  She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out.  Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.”  He said, “Why will you go to him today?  It is neither new moon nor sabbath.”  And she said, “It will be well.”  Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward;  do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”  So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite.  Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you?  Is it well with your husband?  Is it well with the child?’”  And she answered, “It is well.”  When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet.  And Gehazi came near to push her away;  but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her;  and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”  Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord?  Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

Then he said to Gehazi, “Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand, and go your way;  if you meet any man, do not salute him, and if anyone salutes you, do not answer him;  and lay my staff on the lad’s face.”  The mother of the lad said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  And he arose and followed her.  Then Gehazi passed on before them and laid the staff on the lad’s face, but there was no sound or response.  So he returned to meet him and told him, “The lad has not awakened.”

When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed.  So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the LORD.  And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him;  and the flesh of the child became warm.  Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him;  and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.  He called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.”  So he called her.  And when she came in to him, he said, “Take up your son.”  Then she went in and fell at his feet and bowed herself to the ground, and she took up her son and went out.”  2 Kings 4:18-37.

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We see a physical display of her soul being troubled by the Shunammite woman.  We hear sharp words of accusation by her.  We see unsuccessful attempts of healing.  

But, there was persistence and patience by the Shunammite woman and Elisha.  And, the son was raised from the dead.  

Like the Shunammite woman, we may go through a range of emotions and actions.  We may pray hard and healing does not come as soon as we want.    

But, the LORD gives us sufficient grace to cope, to show diligence, to wait in faith, and to receive fulfillment of the promises.  

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.”  Hebrews 6:10-15.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 4:8-17.

“Now there came a day when Elisha passed over to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman, and she persuaded him to eat food.  And so it was, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat food.  She said to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually.  Please, let us make a little walled upper chamber and let us set a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand;  and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he can turn in there.”

One day he came there and turned in to the upper chamber and rested.  Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.”  And when he had called her, she stood before him.  He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care;  what can I do for you?  Would you be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the army?’”  And she answered, “I live among my own people.”  So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”  And Gehazi answered, “Truly she has no son and her husband is old.”  He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.  Then he said, “At this season next year you will embrace a son.”  And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God, do not lie to your maidservant.”

The woman conceived and bore a son at that season the next year, as Elisha had said to her.”  2 Kings 4:8-17.

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“The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:6-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%203&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and used to pay the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.  But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.  And King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.  Then he went and sent word to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me.  Will you go with me to fight against Moab?”  And he said, “I will go up;  I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”  He said, “Which way shall we go up?”  And he answered, “The way of the wilderness of Edom.”

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom;  and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey, and there was no water for the army or for the cattle that followed them.  Then the king of Israel said, “Alas!  For the LORD has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.”  But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?”  And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”  Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.”  So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you?  Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.”  And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.”  Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.  But now bring me a minstrel.”  And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.  He said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Make this valley full of trenches.’  For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind nor shall you see rain;  yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your beasts.  This is but a slight thing in the sight of the LORD;  He will also give the Moabites into your hand.”  2 Kings 3:4-18.  

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“‘Ah Lord GOD!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too difficult for You,”  Jeremiah 32:17.

“Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh;  is anything too difficult for Me?”  Jeremiah 32:26-27.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

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

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

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.”  Ephesians 3:20-21.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:23-25.

“Then he went up from there to Bethel;  and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead;  go up, you baldhead!”  When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD.  Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.  He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.”   2 Kings 2:23-25.

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Today’s Scripture leads us to consider that God is not mocked.  

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8. 

“Will it be well when He examines you?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?” Job 13:9.

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;  for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:5-8.

But, there is hope!

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.  If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.  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 8:9-11.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

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.

“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.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16-24.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:19-22.

“Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees;  but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”  He said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.”  So they brought it to him.  He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I have purified these waters;  there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer.’”  So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.”  2 Kings 2:19-22.

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Today’s Scripture reminds us what the LORD has done for us.

“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.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“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.”  Romans 7:4.

Christ is that One “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14.   

“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;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“You are the salt of the earth;  but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

“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 5:13-16.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:15-18.

“Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.  They said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master;  perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.”  And he said, “You shall not send.”  But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.”  They sent therefore fifty men;  and they searched three days but did not find him.  They returned to him while he was staying at Jericho;  and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”  2 Kings 2:15-18.

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We notice Elisha’s steadfastness.  Elisha personally heard what Elijah said, and Elisha personally saw the chariot of fire and horses of fire take Elijah up.  See 2 Kings 2:1-14.  Elisha received a mantle and a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  Elisha knew that he was taking over Elijah’s ministry.  

But, the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho opposite him tried to appeal to Elisha’s pride and urged him to allow a search party for Elijah.  Although Elisha did say:  “Send.”, he did not do it out of any hope that it might be possible that they might find Elijah.  It was likely that he did so to just give them off his back.  “But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, “Send.”  …”  Verse 17.

In summary, it is likely that the sons of the prophets said things and made Elisha temporarily feel like he should not resist.   After all, would it not be good to try to find Elijah?!   But, Elisha himself did not consider that he himself had wavered.  Elisha “said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”  Verse 18.   

Likewise, today, generally, we will experience other Christians saying things that superficially makes sense and appeal to our pride, even to our Christian sense of duty.  There is the danger that we can be distracted and delayed from fulfilling our ministry.  We must be steadfast and resist from doing what merely may be good in order to do what we know is best and to fulfill our ministry.      

Specifically, today, we see a lot of churches and people get distracted and delayed by trying to be social services to their church members and the outside community.  Although social services can be good work, it can dominate and push out the primary duties of the church such as to preach and teach God’s word, to pray, and to praise God through singing in the best congregational worship service that we can provide.  Doing social services attracts more praise than preaching and teaching God’s word from both other Christians and the outside world.  Social services is a better way to increase attendance, membership, and giving.

But, we are called to be steadfast and to fulfill our ministry.

“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.

“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 15:58.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 2:1-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 2 Kings 2 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.  Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.”  But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  So they went down to Bethel.  …

…

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.”  And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”  He said, “You have asked a hard thing.  Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you;  but if not, it shall not be so.”  As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them.  And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.  Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”  And he saw Elijah no more.  Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.  He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.  He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”  And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there;  and Elisha crossed over.”  2 Kings 2:1-2 and 9-14.

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The question of Elisha (“Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?”) in today’s Scripture is in sharp contrast to the quest of Ahaziah in the prior chapter (“And Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill.  So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.” 2 Kings 1:2.)   

When we hear preaching or teaching, do we ask “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” in that preaching or teaching?

Or, are we on some quest to find out in that preaching or teaching what we should do?

More generally, when we live out our lives, do we ask “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” and “What has the LORD done?”

Or, are we on some quest, focused on ourselves and our own works?  

Notice in the following Scripture the sharp contrast between the focus of the Jews and what they asked compared to the focus of Jesus and what He pointed out is the work of God.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

Other preaching and teaching of other doctrine is like the focus of the Jews.  “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”

But, the preaching and teaching of Reformed Doctrine continually asks the questions:  “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” and “What is the LORD doing?”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”  Ephesians 1:3-11. 

“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.