Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 4:7-11.  God willing, the next devotion will be three days from now,  Sunday, January 13, 2013. 

 

“⁷ The end of all things is near;  therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.  ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint.  ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  ¹¹ Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;  whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies;  so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.”  1 Peter 4:7-11.

 

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Similar to “faith without works is dead” (see James 2:18-26), love without works is dead.  Today’s devotion exhorts us:  “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”.  Verse 10. 

 

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:  if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if service, in his serving;  or he who teaches, in his teaching;  or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;  he who gives, with liberality;  he who leads, with diligence;  he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

                                

Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil;  cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;  give preference to one another in honor;  not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”  Romans 12:6-13.

                            

Therefore, we know our duty.  But, our eyes tend to drift down to ourselves and our own willpower to do our duty.

 

 

We can keep our eyes on God and what He has done for us.

                               

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

                       

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. ”  Philippians 1:6.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 4:1-6.

 

“¹ Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  ³ For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.  ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you;  ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  ⁶ For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.”  1 Peter 4:1-6.

 

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If it were not so deadly serious, it would be slightly amusing that Paul adds this argument:  “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles …”.  But, Paul’s argument shows his gentleness. 

 

Galatians 6:1
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

 

Ephesians 4:2
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,”

 

Colossians 3:12
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”

 

2 Timothy 2:25
“with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

 

 

“Therefore, He (Christ) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”  Hebrews 2:17-18.

 

“A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.”  Matthew 12:20

 

 

“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;  forhe who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:4-7.

 

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all;  but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 6:8-11.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness;  but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  Romans 6:12-14.

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”  Romans 6:17-18.

 

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the outcome of those things is death.  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:20-23.

 

In conclusion, we have been given the Spirit of God.  “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:16.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 3:21-22.

 

“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”  1 Peter 3:21-22. 

 

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“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.  For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 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 9:11-14.

 

“And He (Christ) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His (God’s) 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,”  Hebrews 1:3.

 

                              

Question 44:  How does Christ execute the office of a priest?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them.

Question 54:  How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

Answer:  Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fullness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and does gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies;  furnishes his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and makes intercession for them.

Question 55:  How does Christ make intercession?

Answer:  Christ makes intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers;  Answering all accusations against them, and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, access with boldness to the throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services.

Question 49.  Of what advantage to us is Christ’s ascension into heaven?

Answer.  First, that he is our advocate in the presence of his Father in heaven;  secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that he, as the head, will also take up to himself, us, his members;  thirdly, that he sends us his Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not things on earth.”

Question 50.  Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God”?

Answer.  Because Christ is ascended into heaven for this end, that he might appear as head of his church, by whom the Father governs all things.

Question 51.  What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?

Answer.  First, that by his Holy Spirit he pours our heavenly graces upon us his members;  and then that by his power he defends and preserves us against all enemies.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 3:18-20.

 

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;  in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.”  1 Peter 3:18-20. 

 

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“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God“.  What a message of love and salvation!

                                          

I thought of some wonderful ways Christ brought us to God, and there are other ways:

First, Christ brought us to God by His sacrificial death by which our sins are forgiven and by which we are justified, sanctified, and reconciled to God.  See 1 Peter 3:18 above.

Second, Christ brought us to God by coming to earth to be our Immanuel, “GOD WITH US”.  Matthew 1:23.

Third, Christ brought us to God by sending us the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  See for example John 14:16 & 26, John 16:7 & 13-15; and Acts 1:8.

Fourth, Christ brought us to God by giving us eternal life to be with God:  “…the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Fifth, Christ brought us to God by giving us the right to become children of God.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” John 1:12.

Sixth, Christ brought us to God by being the Word and teaching us grace and truth:  “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.　

Seventh, Christ brought us to God by giving us glory.  “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.  Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  John 17:22-24.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 3:13-17.

 

“¹³ Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.  And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;  ¹⁶ and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  ¹⁷ For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”  1 Peter 3:13-17.

 

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Today’s devotion gives us three things to do.

 

First, “do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled”.  Verse 14.

 

Second, “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence”.  Verse 15. 

 

Third, “keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame”.  Verse 16.

 

To do these three things, it helps us to believe in a sovereign and faithful Savior.  For example, look what can happen when we more fully believe the following Question and Answer 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism.

 

 

 

First, we will not be intimidated nor troubled, because we know that “without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head“.

 

Second, we will sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts, because we know that we “belong” to Him.  He truly is our Lord.  We don’t trust our self;  we trust our sovereign Lord.  It is not a partnership where we need to trust our self to do half of the job.  We “set apart” (the meaning of sanctify) Christ as our sovereign Lord. 

 

Third, we will keep a good conscience, because we know that God “makes” us “sincerely” (good conscience) willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. 

 

In conclusion, by this belief in our sovereign and faithful Savior Jesus Christ, we don’t approach these three things as three separate “to do” things which we depend on our selves to remember and do all three things.  By this belief in our sovereign and faithful Savior, all three things flow together out of us as “living water”, so to speak, out of such belief in our sovereign and faithful Savior. 

 

And, this truly is our only comfort in life and death, throughout whatever suffering we experience.   

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 3:8-12.

 

“⁸ To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;  ⁹ not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;  for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.  ¹⁰ For,

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 3:3.

 

“You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman;  and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”  1 Peter 3:3.

 

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“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8:16-17.

 

“to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,”  Ephesians 3:6

                                 

“By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;”  Hebrews 11:9

 

The differences between husbands and wives are not as great as what they have in common.  They are both children of God and fellow heirs of the grace of life.  They are “fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel”. 

 

Their best strengths and best works don’t gain them salvation.  Both husbands and wives are utterly dependent on grace.  Neither gender can boast. 

 

Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, both husbands and wives live as aliens in the land of promise.  Men may be from Mars, and women may be from Venus, but they are both aliens.  

 

Therefore, as aliens but also as fellow heirs of the grace of life, let husbands (particularly as they are the focus of today’s devotion) and wives both be understanding and patient with each other.  Let us honor each other as fellow heirs of the grace of life.

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

 

“In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.  Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;  but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.  For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;  just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”  1 Peter 3:1-6. 

 

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We have read about the importance of submission in citizens in 1 Peter 2:13-17. 

 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 2:18-25.

 

“¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.  ¹⁹ For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.  ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?  But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 

 

²¹ For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, ²² who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;  ²³ and while being reviled, He did not revile in return;  while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;  ²⁴ and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness;  for by His wounds you were healed.  ²⁵ For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:18-25.

                                     

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We submit, because we trust God.  Like Christ, we keep entrusting ourselves to Him Who judges righteously.  Verse 23.

 

When we do what is right and suffer for it and patiently endure it, we are proving our faith.  This patient endurance of unjust suffering finds favor with God, because it is in essence faith which pleases God. 

 

This trust also known as faith is not only that a conviction or assurance that God will somehow get us through the suffering;  this trust is a specific belief that God turns that unjust suffering to be for our advantage, and it is a general belief that we, the righteous, live our whole lives by faith.

                                     

We trust, because we believe in a Sovereign Savior Who so absolutely controls everything that not a hair can fall from our head apart from His will and Who causes all things to work toward our salvation.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and 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, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

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

Answer.  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.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 2:13-17.

 

“¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.  ¹⁵ For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.  ¹⁶ Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.  ¹⁷ Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”  1 Peter 2:13-17.

 

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“My son, fear the Lord and the king;
Do not associate with those who are given to change,”  Proverbs 24:21.

 

Submission to authority is doing right.  It is the will of God.  Verse 15.  It also earns the praise of those who do right.  Verse 14.  It also helps the punishment of evildoers.  Verse 14. 

 

Submission to authority helps silence the ignorance of foolish men.  Verse 15.  We may infer that submission to authority helps silence the ignorance of foolish men, because those foolish men don’t want to stick out as evildoers when everyone else is quiet and in submission.  But, submission to authority is expressly stated that it is the will of God.  

 

Submission to authority is also part of that “excellent behavior” about which we read yesterday.  “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.  1 Peter 2:12.

 

We submit to authority not because we are slaves to men;  but, we submit to authority, because we are bondslaves to God.  Our goal is not some personal freedom to do whatever we want.  Our goal is to best serve God.

 

We read elsewhere in Scripture that we submit to authority “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1-3. 

                                

This makes sense.

 

 

 

 

Now, there may be rare times when rebellion is the best course of action, because justice is also the will of God.  We do read about God leading the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. 

 

But, we also need to consider that Christ did not lead a rebellion to free the Jews from the rule of the Romans as many wanted.  We also don’t read about rebellion being the best course of action in today’s Scripture.  Instead, we read about the command to submit to authority and the reasons to do so.