Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 17:9-14.

 

“⁹ God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.  ¹⁰ This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.  ¹¹ And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. ¹² And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.  ¹³ A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised;  thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  ¹⁴ But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people;  he has broken My covenant.”  Genesis 17:9-14.

 

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We are no longer required to be circumcised by human hands:  “… knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law;  since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”  Galatians 2:16. 

 

We were circumcised by Christ:  “and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;”  Colossians 2:11 

 

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”  Colossians 2:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 17:1-8. 

 

“¹ Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 

 

³ Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,

⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.  ⁷ I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.  ⁸ I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;  and I will be their God.”  Genesis 17:1-8.

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“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3.  (Emphasis added.)

“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 8:29-30.

“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.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

Article 9.  This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.  The Canons of Dordt – FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Covenant contains God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants.  God repeatedly states:  “I will …”. 

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly.”  Verse 2,

“I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.”  Verse 6. 

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”  Verse 7.

“I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession;  and I will be their God.”  Verse 8.

And who are the recipients of these promises (this covenant)?  Those whom God elected including Abraham and his descendants. (which include all who belong to Christ).

“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”  Acts 3:25   “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”  Galatians 3:29.

“I have made a covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all generations.”   Psalm 89:3-4.

“The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?  For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”  Genesis 18:17-19.

“⁶ O seed of Abraham, His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
⁷ He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 16 which covers the account of Sarai (barren and childless at the time), Hagar (the Egyptian maid given by Sarai to Abram to bear a son), and Ishmael (the son of Hagar and Abram).  After Hagar conceived, Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. 

 

 

We will pick up at verse 7 and go to 12, focusing on these following verses. 

 

“⁷ Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.  ⁸ He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?”  And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”  ⁹ Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.”  ¹⁰ Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.”  ¹¹ The angel of the Lord said to her further,

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 15:7-21.  Here is a link to that Scripture.  Click here: Genesis 15 NASB – Abram Promised a Son – After these – Bible Gateway

 

We will focus on the following verse 18.

 

“On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 15:1-6.

 

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,

Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”   And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”  Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir;  but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”   And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”  And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”  Then he believed in the Lord;  and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”  Genesis 15:1-6.

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“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,”  Romans 4:1-4.

“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.  For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;  for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.  In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.”  Romans 4:13-22. 

“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:23-25.

Who is this God?  This is a God Who makes promises!  This is a God “who gives life to the dead”:  “what God had promised, He was able also to perform”!!  This God is trustworthy!!!  

“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. 

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis Chapter 14 which informs us of the war between the kings, the capture of Lot, the rescue of Lot by Abram, and the meeting between Melchizedek and Abram.  Here is the link to the chapter. 

 

We will focus on the following verses which covers the meeting between Abram and Melchizadek after Abram’s defeat of the kings. 

 

“¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine;  now he was a priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said,

 

He gave him a tenth of all.”  Genesis 14:18-20.

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Melchizadek appeared to Abram as a type of the Savior to come,  “a priest of the God Most High”.

Christ, like Melchizadek, is a priest.

Christ, like Melchizadek, brings out bread and wine to us.  Christ’s bread is His body sacrificed for us.  Christ’s wine is His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Christ, like Melchizadek, blesses us.

Christ, like Melchizadek, witnesses our enemies delivered into our hands.

Christ, like Melchizadek, receives our tithes.

Melchizadek brought great hope to Abram about a future Savior.  Melchizadek brings great joy to us as we read about him and are reminded of Christ Who is that Savior and “a better hope, through which we draw near to God“.  See the following Hebrews 7:19 and the rest of the following Scriptures in Hebrews Chapter 7.

“Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.”  Hebrews 7:4.

“But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.  But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.”  Hebrews 7:6-7.

“¹⁷ For it is attested of Him (Christ),

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.  ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”  Hebrews 7:17-22.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 13:1-18.

 

“¹ So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.

 

² Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.  ³ He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ⁴ to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly;  and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.  ⁵ Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.  ⁶ And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together.  ⁷ And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock.  Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.  ⁹ Is not the whole land before you?  Please separate from me;  if to the left, then I will go to the right;  or if to the right, then I will go to the left.”  ¹⁰ Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.  ¹¹ So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward.  Thus they separated from each other. ¹² Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom.  ¹³ Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;  ¹⁵ for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.  ¹⁶ I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered.  ¹⁷ Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth;  for I will give it to you.”  ¹⁸ Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.”  Genesis 13:1-18.

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It is more important to be chosen of God (as Abram was), than it is to make the apparent good choice (as Lot did).  Lot made the apparent good choice of the well watered land of the valley of the Jordan.  But, Abram was chosen of God (to receive many blessings, including today’s promise of giving Abram the land of Canaan and many descendants).  

“⁴ Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
⁵ Remember His wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth,
⁶ O seed of Abraham, His servant,
O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
⁷ He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 12:10-20.

 

“Now there was a famine in the land;  so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.  It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman;  and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’;  and they will kill me, but they will let you live.  Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.”  It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.  Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh;  and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.  Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake;  and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.

 

But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.  Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me?  Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?  Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife?  Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.”  Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him;  and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.”  Genesis 12:10-20.

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Today’s Scripture shows the wonderful protection that God gave to Abram and Sarai.  God so zealously protects us too.  We too are the apple of His eye.

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear;  you are more valuable than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:7

God “… so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation …”  Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

“¹⁰ ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
¹¹ “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
¹² “You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
¹³ “For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”  Isaiah 41:10-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 12:7-9.

 

“⁷ The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.”  So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.  ⁸ Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east;  and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.  ⁹ Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.”  Genesis 12:7-9.

 

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Twice, in today’s Scripture, we read about Abraham building an altar to the LORD.  Verses 7 and 8.  And yet, there was no specific command from the LORD to do so.  And, there was no ceremonial law which required it.  There was only the promise of God:  “To your descendants I will give this land.”  Verse 7.

 

Lest we get caught up in a focus on Abraham and his work rather than a focus on God and His promise, let us remember Galatians 3:16-18.   

 

“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.  What I am saying is this:  the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.  For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise;  but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.”  Galatians 3:16-18.    

 

There are 369 references to the word “altar” in the New American Standard Version of Scripture – Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: altar  And, there were countless sacrifices made on those altars. 

 

 

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  Hebrews 9:11-12. 

 

                               

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
“And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For all will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
“For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And I will remember their sins no more.”

In conclusion, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  Hebrews 9:14.

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 12:4-6.

 

“⁴ So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him;  and Lot went with him.  Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.  ⁵ Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan;  thus they came to the land of Canaan.  ⁶ Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land.”   Genesis 12:4-6.

 

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We remember the immediately preceding Scripture.

 

“¹ Now the Lord said to Abram,