Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 15:19-21.

“For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea.

Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. Miriam answered them,

“Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.” Exodus 15:19-21.

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“Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.” Psalm 150:4.

“Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.” Psalm 149:3.

“Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.” Psalm 81:2.

“1 Sing for joy to God our strength;

Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song, strike the timbrel,

The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

At the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,

An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 He established it for a testimony in Joseph

When he went throughout the land of Egypt.

I heard a language that I did not know:

6 “I relieved his shoulder of the burden,

His hands were freed from the basket.

7 “You called in trouble and I rescued you;

I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;

I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you;

O Israel, if you would listen to Me!

9 “Let there be no strange god among you;

Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 “I, the Lord, am your God,

Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:1-10.

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“1 Praise the Lord!

Sing to the Lord a new song,

And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;

Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King.

3 Let them praise His name with dancing;

Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;

He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.” Psalm 149:1-4.

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“1 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;

Praise Him with harp and lyre.

4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 150:1-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 15:11-18.

“11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?

Who is like You, majestic in holiness,

Awesome in praises, working wonders?

12 “You stretched out Your right hand,

The earth swallowed them.

13 “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed;

In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation.

14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble;

Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed;

The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;

All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

16 “Terror and dread fall upon them;

By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone;

Until Your people pass over, O Lord,

Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.

17 “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance,

The place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling,

The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.” Exodus 15:11-18.

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Today’s Scripture reminds us of the “Irresistable Grace” of God. “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; In Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation. … “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, The place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.” Verses 13 and 17.

“In Your lovingkindness” refers to “God’s grace”.

“In Your strength” refers to “irresistible”.

Putting it together, through the “Irresistable Grace” of God, “You have led the people”, “You have redeemed”, “You have guided them to Your holy habitation.”, and “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance”.

We are reminded of John 6:44-45: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

“Irresistable Grace” is the fourth point of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“TULIP” summarizes Scripture which teaches that God is absolutely sovereign and that God solely decides who will be saved (God’s elect a/k/a His people) and that God will do everything necessary to bring them to salvation. God will lead, redeem, guide, and plant His elect people in salvation. “Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.” Psalm 3:8. “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.” Verse 18.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 15:1-10.

“1 Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and said,

“I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;

The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.

2 “The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation;

This is my God, and I will praise Him;

My father’s God, and I will extol Him.

3 “The Lord is a warrior;

The Lord is His name.

4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;

And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.

5 “The deeps cover them;

They went down into the depths like a stone.

6 “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power,

Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You;

You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.

8 “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,

The flowing waters stood up like a heap;

The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.

9 “The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;

My desire shall be gratified against them;

I will draw out my sword, my hand will destroy them.’

10 “You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;

They sank like lead in the mighty waters.” Exodus 15:1-10.

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“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.

“Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.” Psalm 150:2.

“Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things; Let this be known throughout the earth.” Isaiah 12:5.

“And He (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:3-4.

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He (Jesus Christ) is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 14:21-31.

“21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided. 22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 Then the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 At the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.” Exodus 14:21-31.

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When Israel saw the great power of the LORD, “the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord”.

Few churches outright deny the LORD and His power, but many churches will subtly change the focus from the LORD to man and change the focus from the work of the LORD to the work of man. In such churches, after the worship service, thoughts of oneself (and what one should do) outweigh thoughts of the LORD and what He has done.

Today, after the worship service, will our thoughts be fixed on God, God’s power, and God’s enemies “dead on the seashore”?

“11 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

12 I will meditate on all Your work

And muse on Your deeds.

13 Your way, O God, is holy;

What god is great like our God?

14 You are the God who works wonders;

You have made known Your strength among the peoples.

15 You have by Your power redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters saw You, O God;

The waters saw You, they were in anguish;

The deeps also trembled.

17 The clouds poured out water;

The skies gave forth a sound;

Your arrows flashed here and there.

18 The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;

The lightnings lit up the world;

The earth trembled and shook.

19 Your way was in the sea

And Your paths in the mighty waters,

And Your footprints may not be known.

20 You led Your people like a flock

By the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalm 77:11-20.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 14:19-20.

“The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.” Exodus 14:19-20.

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The angel of God and the pillar of cloud, Who had been in front of the sons of Israel to guide them, moved to their back to protect them.

“But you will not go out in haste,

Nor will you go as fugitives;

For the Lord will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12.

God will guide, protect, and otherwise bless us. Therefore, let us live boldly for Him.

“6 “Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the bands of the yoke,

And to let the oppressed go free

And break every yoke?

7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry

And bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the naked, to cover him;

And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:6-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 14:15-18.

“15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.”

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God is sovereign and totally controls everything, so that God will be honored before all the people.

In today’s Scripture, we read that God hardened the hearts of the Egyptians so that they pursued the sons of Israel and God could show His awesome power in miraculously and mercifully delivering the sons of Israel and justly destroying the Egyptians who did not obey His command to let His people go.

We later read that God even punished the sons of Aaron who did not worship God as He commanded.

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying,

‘By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,

And before all the people I will be honored.’”

So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.” Leviticus 10:1-3.

And, all of Israel was later warned:

“If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the Lord will bring on you until you are destroyed. Then you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, because you did not obey the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:58-62.

God punishes His enemies to receive honor.

“Then all men will fear,

And they will declare the work of God,

And will consider what He has done.

The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;

And all the upright in heart will glory.” Psalm 64:9-10.

But, God also uses blessings on His people to receive honor:

“1 God be gracious to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.

2 That Your way may be known on the earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;

For You will judge the peoples with uprightness

And guide the nations on the earth. Selah.

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

6 The earth has yielded its produce;

God, our God, blesses us.

7 God blesses us,

That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.” Psalm 67:1-7.

In conclusion, God has so worked that men should fear him. 

“For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;  He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:4.

“I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.” Ecclesiastes 3:4.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11.

“… “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:12.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 14:1-14.

“1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 Thus I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out boldly. 9 Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:1-14.

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The verses of assurance in today’s Scripture are not only for the sons of Israel; they are for us today. The LORD’s salvation does not only extend to an earthly deliverance of the sons of Israel from the Egyptians through the Red Sea; the LORD’s salvation extends to a spiritual deliverance from our sins.

“Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

“even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:5-9.

The summary of this Scripture and are Scripture is found in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

We were even more susceptible to destruction than the sons of Israel were to the pursuing Egyptians. We were dead in sin which is summarized by “Total Depravity”, the first point of “TULIP”.

All the sons of Israel could do, and all that we can do, is “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

So, put down your vain boasting. Your works are not going to save you. Your alleged inherent goodness is not going to save you. Your alleged free-will is not going to save you. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

We may bristle at predestination which is also called “Unconditional Election”, the second point of “TULIP”, but remember that because we were dead in sin, it is our only chance of salvation. We do not and cannot provide any contribution (whether it be works or something provided by free-will) which motivates God to save us. We were dead in sin. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

God sent His only begotten son to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins (to take away the sins) of His elect. Christ did not die for everyone. If Christ died for everyone, then everyone would be saved. This is “Limited Atonement”, the third point of “TULIP”. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44. This is “Irresistible Grace”, the fourth point of “TULIP”. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29. This is “Preservation of the Saints”, the fifth point of “TULIP”. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

In summary, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30. “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you”.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 13:17-22.

“17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt. 19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.” Exodus 13:17-22.

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Verses 17 and 18 confirm what we already know. God does not always lead us by the shortest path to our goal. We may need to go through the wilderness to reach our “land of milk and honey”.

But, there is hope!

God does lead us. Verses 21 and 22. And, “God will surely take care of you”. Verse 19.

A proper attitude can also help.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

That I may tell of all Your works.” Psalm 73:28.

The secular media bombards us with messages of the blessedness of a retirement filled with ease: “a land of milk and honey by ourselves”. But, much better (and truly blessed) than that “land of milk and honey by ourselves” is “the nearness of God”: “the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night”.

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 13:1-16 which covers the Consecration of the Firstborn. Here is a link to that Scripture – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+13&version=NASB

I quote the following verses.

“1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”

3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten. Exodus 13:1-3. …

9 And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9. …

14 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Exodus 13:14. …

16 So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” Exodus 13:16.

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The repeated emphasis of the powerful hand of the Lord and His delivery of the sons of Israel out of Egypt lead us to meditate on the nature of God and His works. God is a sovereign and powerful God Who accomplishes all of His purpose. God is a Savior.

The powerful hand of the LORD Who brought out the sons of Israel from Egypt, the house of slavery, also leads us to meditate on the powerful hand of the LORD Who delivered us from the slavery of sin.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

“but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24.

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” Romans 6:4-7.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:24-25.

Today’s Scripture comes from Exodus 12:42-51.

“42 It is a night to be observed for the Lord for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the Lord, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.

43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it; 44 but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it. 45 A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. 47 All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this. 48 But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that same day the Lord brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.” Exodus 12:42-51.

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The Lord’s strict requirements of Passover in today’s Scripture leads us to consider the Lord’s Supper. Some churches wrongly invite everyone to partake of the Lord’s Supper and do not properly prepare the people to receive it. Let us review the Lord’s strict requirements of who may partake of the Lord’s Supper and otherwise how we should receive it.

Generally, we must partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner. We must examine ourselves to make sure that we are a Christian believer and that we are otherwise prepared to receive it. “… whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-30.

Here is what the Belgic Confession states in part in Article 35: Of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ: “… Lastly, we receive this holy sacrament in the assembly of the people of God, with humility and reverence, keeping up amongst us a holy remembrance of the death of Christ our Savior, with thanksgiving: making there confession of our faith, and of the Christian religion. Therefore no one ought to come to this table without having previously rightly examined himself; lest by eating of this bread and drinking of this cup, he eat and drink judgment to himself. In a word, we are excited by the use of this holy sacrament, to a fervent love towards God and our neighbor. …”

Here is what the Westminster Larger Catechism states in part of how we should receive the Lord’s Supper.

Question 171: How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?

Answer: They that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves of their being in Christ, of their sins and wants; of the truth and measure of their knowledge, faith, repentance; love to God and the brethren, charity to all men, forgiving those that have done them wrong; of their desires after Christ, and of their new obedience; and by renewing the exercise of these graces, by serious meditation, and fervent prayer.

Question 172: May one who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: One who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God’s account has it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity: in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to bewail his unbelief, and labor to have his doubts resolved; and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord’s Supper, that he may be further strengthened.

Question 173: May any who profess the faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s Supper, be kept from it?

Answer: Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s Supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ has left in his church, until they receive instruction, and manifest their reformation.

Question 174: What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in the time of the administration of it?

Answer: It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance, diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions, heedfully discern the Lord’s body, and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings, and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin; in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of his fulness, trusting in his merits, rejoicing in his love, giving thanks for his grace; in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints.

Question 175: What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, is seriously to consider: How they have behaved themselves therein, and with: What success; if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it, beg the continuance of it, watch against relapses, fulfil their vows, and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance: but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament; in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time: but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled, and to attend upon it afterwards with more care and diligence.