Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 13:1-6.

 

“Let love of the brethren continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.  Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.  Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled;  for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.  Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have;  for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say,

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:25-29.

 

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.  And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”  This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:25-29.

 

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Despite the vivid contrast between Sinai and Zion which we read in yesterday’s devotion and the awesome description of heaven (Zion), there may be those who are hesitant to commit to grace and rely on God rather than commit to the Law and rely on themselves.  Today’s Scripture adds bookend warnings to the description in the middle of today’s Scripture of heaven as an unshaken kingdom.  

 

Today’s Scripture starts with the warning:  “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.”  Today’s Scripture ends with the warning:  “our God is a consuming fire”.

 

We may think that the unshaken kingdom is awesome.  But, how much more awesome is the King of that kingdom!   

 

Luke 12:5
“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

 

Deuteronomy 4:24
“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

 

Deuteronomy 9:3
“Know therefore today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire.  He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you.”

 

Isaiah 29:6
“From the LORD of hosts you will be punished with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, With whirlwind and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire.”

 

Isaiah 30:27
“Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place;  Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke; His lips are filled with indignation And His tongue is like a consuming fire;”

 

Isaiah 30:30
“And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard, And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger, And in the flame of a consuming fire In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones.”

 

Isaiah 33:14
“Sinners in Zion are terrified;  Trembling has seized the godless.  “Who among us can live with the consuming fire?  Who among us can live with continual burning?”

 

Lamentations 2:3
“In fierce anger He has cut off All the strength of Israel;  He has drawn back His right hand From before the enemy.  And He has burned in Jacob like a flaming fire Consuming round about.”

 

 

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-32.

 

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.”  Verses 28-29.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:18-24.

 

“For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.   For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”   And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”

 

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”  Hebrews 12:18-24.

 

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Previously, in the Book of Hebrews, Peter explained in great detail how the Law (a/k/a the old covenant a/k/a Sinai, the place were the Ten Commandments were handed down from God to Moses) was unable to “perfect those who draw near”.  For example, see Hebrews 10:1. 

 

Here, in today’s Scripture, Peter warns those who still want to be under the Law by vivid and scary descriptions of the Law represented by Sinai.  Although the Law is holy and good, we are not holy and good.  Because of our sinful nature, the holy Law will condemn us, and the result is our fear and trembling and eventual death. 

 

“So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.  “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11. 

 

But, after giving this warning of what the Law represents, Peter assures us that we have come to Grace (a/k/a the new covenant a/k/a Zion a/k/a heaven). 

 

There is a sharp contrast between the two.  The Law represents the desert, gloom, darkness, whirlwind, fear, and condemnation.  Grace represents the heavenly city, joy, light, peace, comfort, and commendation.

 

We have seen a similar sharp contrast between the Law and Grace by the use of another allegory in Galatians 4:21-28.

                        

^“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves;  she is Hagar.  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free;  she is our mother.  For it is written,

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.”  Galatians 4:21-28.

Therefore, be warned.  Don’t go back to the Law.  Cling to the Grace that you have in Christ.

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.”  Hebrews 12:25.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:14-17.

 

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God;  that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;  that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”  Hebrews 12:14-17.

 

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By grace alone, we who were born of God were given the right to be children of God.  This is our birthright.   

 

“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, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13. 

 

Rather than embrace this birthright, there are some who are content to be like everyone else.  In a sense by their actions, they have sold their birthright.

 

Rather than embrace the distinctiveness of Reformed Doctrine and “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, in which they were raised, they are content to be like every other Christian.  They act as if they are ashamed of predestination and will not mention it, or they will obscure or minimalize it.

 

The only grace that there is a particular grace originating in God’s “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.  The only “chance” for salvation that we have is predestination.  God unconditionally elected some to receive salvation.  Only those were born of God.  There is no common grace that should cause us to seek to be like everyone else.

 

 

So, you believe in the Word of God?  Good.  So does everyone else who claims to be a Christian. 

 

So, you try to live according to the Word of God?  Good.  So does everyone else who claims to be a Christian. 

 

So, you believe in Christ and claim that He is all you need?  Good.  So does everyone else who claims to be a Christian. 

 

Reformed believers, “You are the salt of the earth;  but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”  Matthew 5:13 

 

What is your birthright?

 

You don’t know?  You already lost it??

 

At one time, I didn’t know my birthright.  In a sense, I lost it.  

 

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:12-13.

 

“Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”  Hebrews 12:12-13.

 

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When we look straight ahead, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, then we become less discouraged and less distracted and less weary.

 

When we walk straight ahead, not turning to the left or the right, then we are less likely to get lost and less likely to stumble and fall and less likely to get hurt.

 

When we talk straight, then our followers are less likely to be deceived and confused.

 

“²⁵ Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
²⁶ Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.”  Proverbs 4:25-27. 

 

“²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.”  Proverbs 4:24. 

 

 

 

Proverbs 3:6
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

 

Jeremiah 31:9
“With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them;  I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble;  For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.”

 

“⁴ They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region;
They did not find a way to an inhabited city.
⁵ They were hungry and thirsty;
Their soul fainted within them.
⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He delivered them out of their distresses.
⁷ He led them also by a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!”  Psalm 107:4-8.

 

“⁵ ‘Every ravine will be filled,
And every mountain and hill will be brought low;
The crooked will become straight,
And the rough roads smooth;
⁶ And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’”  Luke 3:5-6.

 

 

 

Proverbs 11:3
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.”

 

Proverbs 21:8
“The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.”

 

Proverbs 28:6
“Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.”

 

Proverbs 28:18
“He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once.”

 

 

 

Psalm 125:5
“But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.  Peace be upon Israel.”

 

^“13 … those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
¹⁴ Who delight in doing evil
And rejoice in the perversity of evil;
¹⁵ Whose paths are crooked,
And who are devious in their ways;”  Proverbs 2:13-15.

 

Proverbs 17:20
“He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.”

 

Isaiah 59:8
“They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks;  They have made their paths crooked, Whoever treads on them does not know peace.”

 

Jeremiah 6:16
“Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it;  And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

 

Jeremiah 18:15
“‘For My people have forgotten Me, They burn incense to worthless gods And they have stumbled from their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in bypaths, Not on a highway,”

 

 

 

Psalm 23:3
“He restores my soul;  He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

 

Proverbs 8:20
“I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,”

 

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:4-11.

 

“⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;  ⁵ and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons;  for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them;  shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:4-11.

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Today’s devotion focuses on God’s discipline of us.  Although there are certain parallels to a natural parent’s discipline of his or her child, we will focus on the God’s perfect insight and perfect discipline of us in the hope that we learn to react better to it. 

First of all, let us understand more that God loves us, and His discipline arises out of His love for us, demonstrating His love for us. 

“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”  Verse 6.

“For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”  Proverbs 3:12.

“He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”  Proverbs 13:24.

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;  therefore be zealous and repent.”  Revelation 3:19.

Second, God’s discipline is not just a quick, spontaneous, reactionary, violent, and physical action like a spanking. 

Although God’s discipline, through His agent (natural parent) can include spanking, God’s discipline is more like a time-consuming, planned, initiative, withholding, and spiritual action like a humbling.  

“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.  He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.  Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.  Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.  Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”  Deuteronomy 8:2-6. 

Now, we are not in the wilderness.  We are not necessarily hungry.  But, God does withhold things for sometimes lengthy times to humble us and build our faith and test our faith, so that we will look to Him more and trust Him more.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:6-9.    

Third, let us then react well to God’s discipline.

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”  Job 5:17.

“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”  Proverbs 3:11-12.

“A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”  Proverbs 13:1.

“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.”  Proverbs 15:5.

“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.”  Proverbs 19:20.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.  After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 5:6-11.

Fourth, let us appreciate more the fruit of discipline. 

“… He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.”  Verse 10.

“… it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Verse 11.

“And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.”  Isaiah 32:17.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 12:2-3.  Although we covered verse 2 yesterday, it fits so well with verse 3 that we will cover it again.

 

“² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

                                 

Jesus is your example of excellence and your perfector of faith, “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  

 

“²⁸ Do you not know?  Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
³⁰ Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
³¹ Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”  Isaiah 40:28-31.

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

 

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.

 

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Many football players want to play in the larger stadiums.  They also want to be seen on TV.  They love the electric environment of so many people cheering for them.  

 

By faith, we know that we too “have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us”.  “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”  Hebrews 12:22-24. 

 

By faith, we know that they are cheering for us.  “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.”  Romans 8:19.

 

So, with that knowledge, as a runner in a race wears the lightest clothes and shoes, “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”.

 

We don’t know exactly who are the witnesses in that “so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us”.

                                        

Maybe, Abel is watching us.

Maybe, Enoch is watching us.

Maybe, Noah is watching us.

Maybe, Abraham is watching us.

Maybe, Sarah is watching us.

Maybe, Isaac is watching us.

Maybe, Jacob is watching us.

Maybe, Moses is watching us.

Maybe, Rahab is watching us.

Maybe, Gideon is watching us.

Maybe, Barak is watching us.

Maybe, Samson is watching us.

Maybe, Jephthah is watching us.

Maybe, David is watching us.

Maybe, Samuel is watching us.               

I do think that they all are watching us due to the immediate proximity of today’s Scripture to Hebrews Chapter 11 in which all these names are found in the Hall of Fame of Faith and due to the use of the word “Therefore” as in “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us”. 

But, in any event, we know for certain that we have a coach who is watching us and coaching us and interceding for us.  Let us run, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”.  “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;”   1 John 2:1  “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:25

In conclusion, this is an electric environment.  We have “so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us”.  So, with goose bumps and hairs standing straight up and joy swelling up in our hearts, “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 11:32-40.

 

“³² And what more shall I say?  For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  ³⁵ Women received back their dead by resurrection;  and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;  ³⁶ and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword;  they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ³⁸ (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

 

³⁹ And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”  Hebrews 11:32-40.

 

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At first reading, there seems to be two groups of those who have faith and a sharp contrast between them.  The first group is “the victorious achievers”:  those who “conquered kingdoms”, “shut the mouths of lions”, and “put foreign armies to flight”.  Verses 32-34.  The second group is “the suffering believers”:  who were “tortured”, “afflicted” and “ill-treated”.  Verses 35-38.  

But then, we read verses 39-40.  “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”  Then, we understand that there is something better than victories in war and other miraculous success on earth which the first class, “the victorious achievers”, did receive.  There is also something better than peace on earth, absence of suffering, and abundant food, clothing and shelter which the second class, “the suffering believers”, did not receive. 

Then, we understand that there is really only one class.  We are all simply “believers” who have not yet received what is really important. 

We all believe and look forward to that  “something better” which God has promised us and provided for us which is heaven.  And, we all believe and look forward to being “made perfect” together. 

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”  Hebrews 12:22-24. 

Today’s Scripture gives us hope and encouragement this Monday morning and throughout the week that no matter if we feel like a “victorious achiever” or a “suffering believer”, there is that “something better” for us that God has prepared for us. 

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  Colossians 3:2.  Through faith, “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect”.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 11:30-31.

 

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.  By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”  Hebrews 11:30-31.

 

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Joshua Chapter 2 provides the story of Rahab.