Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28.

 

“²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.

 

²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

 

²⁷ I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.

                                     

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

 

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

 

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“30 As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?”  Psalm 18:30-32.

 

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-8.

 

“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.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.

 

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

 

“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;  so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesuswith all His saints.”  1 Thesslonians 3:11-13.

 

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

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.

 

“¹⁹  Do not quench the Spirit;

 

²⁰ do not despise prophetic utterances.

 

²¹ But examine everything carefully;  hold fast to that which is good;

 

²² abstain from every form of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.

 

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We read one of them in the next verse:  prophetic utterances.  Verse 20. 

 

But, particularly as Reformed believers, we rightly bristle against actions of TV evangelists who claim that they can heal through the Spirit almost anyone who is willing to come forward to them.

 

We are advised in the following two verses to “examine everything carefully;  hold fast to that which is good” and “abstain from every form of evil.” 

 

So, let us stay close to Scripture as we seek to determine some of the actions of the Spirit that we should be careful to not quench.

 

The context of today’s Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, also instructs us about Christian conduct.  We can infer that the Holy Spirit guides us to act in Christian conduct as we should, including to: “esteem them (our leaders) very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” and “always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.  Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks”.  

 

Therefore, when we act inconsistent with the actions of the Spirit which prompt us to so act in love for the good of others and with joy and thanks and prayer in our hearts, then we may be quenching the Spirit.  

 

We certainly don’t want to limit quenching the Spirit to such inconsistent acts.  As stated above, we can’t ignore verse 20:  “do not despise prophetic utterances”.  But, by reference to the verses prior to today’s Scripture, I wanted to point out that there are also other ways to quench the Spirit than just through the specific expressed way of despising prophetic utterances. 

 

We are not quenching the Spirit by not allowing a “free for all” display of claimed “in the Spirit” healings, speaking in tongues, and prophecies.   We are instructed to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”.  Even in a chapter that specifically promotes prophecy (1 Corinthians Chapter 14), we are instructed:  “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”  1 Corinthians 14:40.               

 

In a similar verse to today’s verse 19 (“Do not quench the Spirit;”), we read Ephesians 4:30.  “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

 

Let us look at the context of this Ephesians 4:30.  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32.  

 

It is remarkable that we find a similar context surrounding both today’s Scripture and surrounding Ephesians 4:20.  There is edification which is the goal of prophecy.  See 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4, 12, and especially 26.  “What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.”  1 Corinthians 14:26.  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:13

                                  

And, there is also present in both contexts the proper attitude.  We already read the proper attitude in the context of today’s Scripture which I will summarize as “Live in peace with one another.  … always seek after that which is good for one another”.  In this last context of Ephesians 4:20, the proper attitude is expressed as:  “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other”. 

 

In summary and conclusion, when we quench edification or quench the making of peace and the seeking of good for one another, then we are in danger of quenching the Spirit.  There are other ways to quench the Spirit which we should seek to determine.  But, let us at least gain insight from today’s devotion and be careful to not quench edification and be careful to not quench the making of peace and the seeking of good for one another.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

 

“Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks;  for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

 

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What makes us think that it is God’s will for us to be quiet sourpusses?!  And yet, we act that way too often and approve of that conduct in other Christians too often.  

 

Today’s Scripture reminds us that our beauty and attractiveness (our “becoming”) comes from behavior that rejoices always, prays without ceasing, and gives thanks in everything.  This is God’s will for us.   

 

Psalm 33:1
“Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;  Praise is becoming to the upright.”

                           

Psalm 147:1
“Praise the LORD!  For it is good to sing praises to our God;  For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”

 

 

In summary, the above-stated Psalm 33:1 verse is contained in a chapter that puts it all together in a sweeping view of history and God’s will.  Notice the rejoicing in verses 1 to 3, the thanks in verse 2, the cause for rejoicing and thanks which is God’s word and work in verses 4 through 11, what pleases God and is God’s will for us in verses 13 through 19, and the attitude of prayer in verses 20 through 22.

                                   

“Praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm Chapter 33.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.

 

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”  1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. 

 

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Today’s Scripture continues the recent series of “one another” conclusions.  In this chapter, we are instructed to “encourage one another”, “build up one another”, “Live in peace with one another”, and “always seek after that which is good for one another”.

 

Today’s conclusion, “always seek after that which is good for one another”, is a good summary of these other conclusions.  It is also a good summary of the detailed instructions in today’s Scripture.  “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10. 

 

How are we able to so do good to all people as we should?  Where is God’s help?  

 

First, let us realize how much God desires and delights in such behavior toward “one another”. 

 

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forever.”  Psalm Chapter 133.

 

Second, because God desires it so much, we can better understand God’s will for His church, Christ’s body, to so get along with one another and do good to one another, and we can better understand His abundant provisions to enable it.

 

Third, God the Spirit produces the fruit of “goodness” in us.  Galatians 6:22.  In addition, God gives us spiritual gifts and works within us “for the common good”.  “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7.  We will also get along with one another and do good to one another, because God “… has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”  1 Corinthians 12:18. 

 

In conclusion, we may sometimes think that we have been randomly thrown in a room of strangers and left to ourselves to get along and do good to strangers while God watches us with his arms folded.  But, now we can better see God behind the scenes putting us together exactly as He wants, giving us spiritual gifts to help those next to us in the best possible way, working within us “for the common good”, and pouring the sweet Holy Spirit over us like oil flowing down Aaron’s beard.  “It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;  For there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forever.”  Psalm Chapter 133:3.   

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

 

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.  For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you  like a thief;  for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness;  so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.  For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

 

But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

 

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Our “hope of salvation” is predestination:  “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation“.  Because of this predestination, we will not receive the wrath of God in “the day of the Lord” in today’s Scripture. 

 

We are not embarrassed about predestination a/k/a the “Unconditional Election” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  We are not ashamed of it.  We do not obscure it nor minimize it.  We do not hide it.

                         

Psalm 40:10
“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;  I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;  I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”

                                        

Rather, we exult in predestination a/k/a the “Unconditional Election” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD;  My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.”  1 Samuel 2:1

 

Isaiah 61:10
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God;  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

                       

“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.

 

 

Therefore, we pound the table on “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, and we encourage one another and build up one another as to predestination a/k/a “Unconditional Election”, our hope of salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

 

“¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

 

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

 

¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

 

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

 

¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

 

¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

 

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The comfort of today’s Scripture is not only that we who are alive will be raised to “always be with the Lord”;  the comfort of today’s Scripture is that our beloved deceased ones (“those who are asleep”) will also be raised and that we shall be “together with them” always with the Lord.  “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  Verse 18.

 

Eschatology is a “branch of theology” concerning “death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind;  specifically:  any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment”.  Click here: Eschatology – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary  Today’s Scripture, the Book of Revelations, and other Scripture provide the basis for the study and formation of eschatology.   

 

Sometimes, eschatology is wrongly used by some preachers and teachers as a club to prove what a great Bible scholar that they are and to do battle with others.  They may try to complicate and scare others to get them to cling to them.  They may try to get people to reject other preachers and teachers altogether because of some small detail of the eschatology beliefs of these other preachers and teachers that they claim is wrong.  But, today’s Scripture instructs us that one of the purposes of these words is to “comfort one another”. 

 

William Hendricksen in his book More than Conquerors:  An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation is a good example of how we should handle eschatology.  His scholarship is very detailed and excellent, but he is not condescending nor difficult to comprehend.  One of his purposes is to simplify and comfort Christians.  Click here: Amazon.com: More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (9780801057922): William Hendriksen:  

 

The Heidelberg Catechism also does a great job to simplify and comfort Christians, starting in the very first Question and Answer.

 

 

 

And, this should also be one of the purposes of our preaching and teaching:  to simplify and comfort Christians.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.

 

“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;  for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.  But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”  1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.

 

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It is easy to say that we love our brethren, but it is much more difficult to act in accordance to our warm feelings and words.

 

It is easy to love a cute baby, but it is much more difficult to provide all that the baby needs through adulthood.

 

Today’s Scripture and related Scriptures provide steps “to excel more” in our love for the brethren.  Here are three steps. 

 

The first step is to take care of ourselves, so that we are not tempted to steal from others:  “lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”  Verses 11 and 12. 

 

“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” Proverbs 10:4-5.

 

“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”  Ephesians 4:28. 

 

And, this stealing is not limited to thefts and robberies.  Stealing can be done by committing fraud or other unjust business practices on others.

 

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states about the eight commandment (“You shall not steal.”  Exodus 20:15):

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Dad died a few years ago.  He was a medical doctor, a surgeon.  At his funeral, I asked one of his friends who was a family practice doctor who referred cases needing surgery to my Dad as to what he thought of my Dad.  I expected him to say something nice about my Dad such as my Dad was nice or a good friend.  But, he said curtly, almost coldly:  “He was competent”.

 

I recognized the wisdom of that comment.  And, it has made a big impression on me.  One of the first and most important things that we want from other people is that they do their jobs competently.  

 

 

 

“8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;  9 as it is written,
“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.  12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.  13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.  15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:8-15.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

 

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

 

² For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

 

³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification;  that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

 

⁴ that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

 

⁵ not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;  and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

 

⁷ For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

 

⁸ So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”  1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.

 

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“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you;  but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

 

“Flee immorality.  Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

 

 

First, there is our “Helper”, the Holy Spirit.  See verse 8.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:22-24.

 

Second, there is the full armor of God.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13.  The pieces of the full armor of the Lord are listed in Ephesians 6:14-17 which include the belt of “truth”, “the breastplate of righteousness”, shoes of “the preparation of the gospel of peace”, “the shield of faith”, “the helmet of salvation”, and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.

 

Third, God provides “the way of escape” from the temptation.  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man;  and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13

 

In conclusion, we know our duty to abstain from sexual immorality.  We know that we have specific means of help.  But, let us also remember that “the will of God” and the call of God for our sanctification in verses 3 and 7 not only show our duty, but it gives us hope that God will accomplish His will for sanctification and His call for sanctification.  God assures us generally:  “I will accomplish all My good pleasure”.  See Isaiah 46:9-11   

 

God Himself is the One Who sanctifies us.  Notice the repetition and emphasis by God throughout Scripture.

 

Exodus 31:13
“… I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”

 

Leviticus 20:8
“… I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”

 

Leviticus 21:8
“… for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy.”

 

Leviticus 21:15
“… for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.” 

 

Leviticus 21:23
“… For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

 

Leviticus 22:9
“… I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” 

 

Leviticus 22:16
“… for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” 

 

Leviticus 22:32
“… I am the LORD who sanctifies you,”

 

Ezekiel 20:12
“… I am the LORD who sanctifies them.”

 

Ezekiel 37:28
“And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”

 

Hebrews 2:11
“For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;  for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,”

 

Ephesians 5:26
“so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”

 

Hebrews 13:12
“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”

 

1 Peter 1:2
“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:  May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”  

 

 

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.

 

“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;  so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”  1 Thessalonians 3:11-13.

 

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In our last devotion, we read Scripture about the joy in the saints and love for the saints that we should have.  How do we get that joy and love for the saints?

 

We focus on God, hope for it, and pray to God for it.  

 

And, this focus, hope, and prayer also applies to other qualities that we should have.

                                        

“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;  Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;  Do not forsake the works of Thy hands.”  Psalm 138:8

Psalm 57:2 similarly states:  “I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.”

Romans 8:28 states:  “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.”

Romans 8:32 states:  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things”?

I know that I struggle to live by faith. I struggle to believe what I write.  Sometimes, all I can see is the “bleak reality”.  But, the “bleak reality” is really only a logical future without God.  But there is a God who has awesome and infinite power.  And, this Almighty God is also our Faithful Father! 

                          

God fulfills His promises and showers us with His lovingkindness. God can and does turn our “bleak reality” into our “abundant life”.

God does not just sit in heaven and watch what we do or what happens to us.  God accomplishes His will through us.  He gives us everything we need.  God continually encourages us.  He give us His Son and His Spirit to dwell within us.  He adopts us as His children.  God creates the good works for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10.  God perfects the good work within us.  Philippians 1:6.  God predestines us.  God calls us.  God justifies us.  God glorifies us.  Romans 8:29-30.

Let us stop worrying about what we should do, and let us start praising God for what He has done!

“For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.

The world pulls our eyes down from God to ourselves.

We need to lift our eyes to God.  

The world tells us how we can improve ourselves.  “Just do it” states a famous commercial.

The world tries to get us to focus on what we do rather than what God did.

The world says:  “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”  See John 6:28.

Jesus answers:  “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” See John 6:29.

What impression do we give people?:

“How great I am!”

“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory;  but He who is seeking the glory of the one who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him”.  John 7:18.

What impression do we give people?  “Look at what I did!”, or “Look at what God did!”?

Of course, we can and should work, but God should be seen as the worker.  Our works should be seen as wrought in God.  Our works should bring attention and glory to God, not to us.

“But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:21.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

“I have not hidden Thy righteousness within my heart;  I have spoken of Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation;  I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great congregation.” Psalm 40:10.

There was a seminar years ago called:  “Seven Attributes of the Godly Man”.  It may very well have been a good seminar, yet the title made me think:  I wish there was a seminar on “Seven Attributes of God”.

Much more important than improving our righteousness is learning about the righteousness of God.  Much more important than trying to be more faithful is learning about the faithfulness of God.  Do we want to learn more about ourselves or God?  Do we want to learn more about what we should do or more about what God has done for us?

Too often, we look down into our own hearts and try to improve ourselves, rather than look up to God and observe and meditate upon what He has done.

“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done,
And Thy thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with Thee;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.”  Psalm 40:5.

Many of us would paraphrase Psalm 40:1-2 to be:  “I just did it;  And God was proud of me.  I climbed out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;  And I made myself secure.”

However, Psalm 40:1-2 states:  “I waited patiently for the LORD;  And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;  And He set my feet upon the rock making my footsteps firm.” 

The following Scripture summarizes this focus, hope, and prayer so well.  This Scripture also tells it from God’s perspective.   

“13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:13-22.

In conclusion, the focus is on God.  The hope is in God.  The prayer is to God.