Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 2:12-14.

 

“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”  1 John 2:12-14.

 

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Yes, we sin, but our sins have been forgiven for His names’s sake.  

 

Yes, we live in a dark world, but we know and follow Jesus, the “Light of the world”.  John 8:12.

 

Yes, we face the evil one who accuses us, but we “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”.  1 John 2:1.

 

Yes, we struggle “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”  (Ephesians 6:12), but we are “strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10), and we have overcome the evil one.  Verses 13 and 14. 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 2:7-11.

 

“⁷ Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning;  the old commandment is the word which you have heard.   ⁸ On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.  ⁹ The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.  ¹⁰ The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.  ¹¹ But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”  1 John 2:7-11.

 

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“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

                                       

“We love, because He first loved us.”

                               

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 2:3-6.

 

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.  By this we know that we are in Him:  the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”  1 John 2:3-6.

 

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Answer.  First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ;  likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come.  The Heidelberg Catechism. 

 

“Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches;  he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up;  and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.  Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;  abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love;  just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.  These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”  John 15:4-11.

 

Although it is not sufficient to just claim that we know God (without keeping His word), the solution is not to focus on ourself and just try harder.  Today’s Scripture should drive us to Christ, not away from Him to ourself.  The chapter of today’s Scripture concludes with these words which echo the Scripture above from John Chapter 15.

 

“This is the promise which He Himself made to us:  eternal life.

                                           

These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.  As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you;  but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

                                      

Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.  If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.”  1 John 2:25-29.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 2:1-2.

 

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;  and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  1 John 2:1-2.

 

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We have an Advocate with God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  

 

And, Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins (“atoning sacrifice” – Merriam-Webster online dictionary).

 

And, Jesus is not only a Savior for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.  Jesus is not only a Savior for those in Israel, but for those in Egypt and Syria as well.  Jesus is not only a Savior for those in United States, but for those in China as well:  “and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”.  Verse 2.

 

Thus, we have every confidence:  “who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:34.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We believe that we have no access unto God, but alone through the only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, who therefore became man, having united in one person the divine and human natures, that we men might have access to the divine Majesty, which access would otherwise be barred against us.  …  If then we should seek for another Mediator, who would be well affected towards us, whom could we find, who loved us more than he, who laid down his life for us, even when we were his enemies?  And if we seek for one who hath power and majesty, who is there that has so much of both as he who sits at the right hand of his Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth?  And who will sooner be heard than the own well beloved Son of God?  …  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;  but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  The same apostle saith, having boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus;  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, etc.  Likewise, Christ hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  …  Therefore according to the command of Christ, we call upon the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our own Mediator, as we are taught in the Lord’s prayer; being assured that whatever we ask of the Father in his name, will be granted us.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 1:8-10.

 

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:8-10.

 

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“¹ How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
² How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

                                   

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 1:5-7.

 

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  1 John 1:5-7.

 

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“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world;  he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12.

 

Thus, we walk in the Light by following Jesus, “the Light of the world”.

                                

We can better follow Jesus if we look and focus on Jesus.  It is easy for us to agree with this point that we should look and focus on Jesus, but I experience in myself, and also see in other Christians, a tendency or attraction to look at ourselves.

We are more inclined to look at ourselves and try to do on our own what we think we should do.  The question posed by the Jews to Jesus is also our question:  “… What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  John 6:28.  (Emphasis added.) 

But, notice Jesus’ answer:  “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29. 

If we truly believe that Jesus is “the Light of the world”, through God’s grace (“the work of God”), then we will be more inclined to look and focus on Jesus, rather than look at ourselves.   

If we are to follow Christ, we should above all seek to see Him:  “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …”  Hebrews 12:2. 

We keep our eyes on Jesus by faithfully reading God’s Word and meditating and believing, through God’s grace, what it teaches us about Jesus.  

If we take our eyes off of Jesus, then we will slow down, fall behind or wander. But, if we keep our eyes on Him, we can almost effortlessly follow Him.  We do not need to think about:  “Am I walking fast enough?  Am I tired?  Am I staying on course?”  If we keep our eyes on Jesus, then we will be able to follow Him:  “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:3.

Likewise, we are comforted that we will be able to follow Him, because the Christian life is often described as a walk.  (For examples:  “walk in the Light”  Verse 7;  “walk by the Spirit”,  Galatians 5:16;  “walk in My statutes”,  Leviticus 26:3;  “walk in newness of life”,  Romans 6:4;  and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling”,  Ephesians 4:1).  

Finally, we have Christ’s promise.  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them; and they shall never perish;  and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28.

In conclusion, to tie everything together and summarize, we walk in the Light by following Jesus, “the Light of the world”.  We follow Jesus by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …”  Hebrews 12:2.  We fix our eyes on Jesus by faithfully reading God’s Word and meditating and believing, through God’s grace (“the work of God”), what it teaches us about Jesus.  We can do it.  It is a walk.  And, we have the Good Shepherd (Jesus) to insure that we do walk in His Light and follow Him.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 John 1:1-4.

 

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us;  and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.  These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”  1 John 1:1-4.

 

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This past Sunday, a friend at church asked me when I write the daily devotions that, as you may know, I post around 8:00 a.m. each day, God willing, (except Saturday).  “Do you prepare a week ahead?”:  he asked.

 

Today’s devotion answers the question of why we write.

 

We write, because we observe.  We read God’s Word, and we want to write about what we learn:  “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—”  Verse 1.

 

We write, because the life (including the words of life which we witnessed) bubbles up within us and overflows:  “and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—”.  Verse 2.  “… whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst;  but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:14.  

 

We write, because we want to have fellowship with others:  “… so that you too may have fellowship with us …”.  Verse 3.

 

We write, because it gives us joy to write about the Word of Life.  “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”  Verse 4.

 

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

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Peter 3:8-9.

 

“ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:8-9.

 

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This is a promise of salvation, not a “well-meant” offer.  Just a few verses later, we read:  “and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation …”.  2 Peter 3:15. 

 

If this were a “well-meant” offer, then there would be an exhortation to action:  “Repent!  Come to Christ!!”.  But instead, we read:  “The Lord is not slow about His promise”, meaning, the Lord will fulfill His promise to both come again and to save you even though it may seem to you like a long time.

 

This is also consistent with the preceding context.  Some will mock Christians by saying:  “Where is the promise of His coming?”.  See 2 Peter 3:4.  “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”  Verse 8.

 

And, this Book of 2 Peter was written:  “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”.  2 Peter 1:1.  Today’s Scripture is not an altar call.  Rather, it is reminder to those elect of “Preservation of the Saints” a/k/a “Perseverance of the Saints”, namely that not one of God’s elect will be lost:  “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance”.  Verse 9. 

 

God’s promises and wishes toward His elect will certainly be fulfilled.