Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”  Philippians 1:12-20.

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Christ is proclaimed.  Christ is exalted.  God always leads us in triumph in Christ. 

“¹ The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.  … 
⁶ The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.”  Psalm 97:1 and 6.

“¹ O sing to the LORD a new song,
For He has done wonderful things,
His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
² The LORD has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”  Psalm 98:1-3.

“I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations;  and they will know that I am the LORD.”’  Ezekiel 38:23

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your king is coming to you;  He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Zechariah 9:9

“… God highly exalted Him (Christ), and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11.

“How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7 

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”  2 Corinthians 2:14

Today’s devotion comes from Philippians 1:1-6.

“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.  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 1:1-6.

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There was nothing good in us that motivated God in the beginning to elect us and begin His good work within us (remember “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation).  Any later sin or inability within us will not surprise God nor cause God to cease His good work within us. “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.”

God is not fickle.  ““For I, the LORD, do not change;  therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6.

God does not divorce. “Husbands, love your wives, just as 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.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:6-10.  In other words, if Christ died for us when we were at our worst, then having done so and forgiven us and cleansed us of all of our sins and reconciled us, then Christ will certainly continue His work within 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.

This is God’s work.  Man always thinks it is about himself:  “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  John 6:28.  But, notice Jesus’ reply.  “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29.  It is all about God and His work.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure.                                                                                                                 “⁹ “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
¹¹ Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

In conclusion, this precious truth is called “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.

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How much do we know about the condition of fellow saints?  How often do we specifically pray for them?  How often do we follow-up with a praise report?

In today’s Scripture, we read about Paul making provision about disclosing his condition through Tychicus.  We read about Paul asking for specific prayer that “I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak“.  Like Paul, we should disclose our condition to trusted Christians and request specific prayer from them.

A friend and I meet about once a week to read Scripture and pray.  We pick a book of the Bible and then read a chapter a meeting with each of us reading out loud half of the chapter.  We then share specific prayer requests.  He prays for my prayer requests, and I pray for his prayer requests.  Often, our specific prayer requests are for ourselves or members of our family, but sometimes our prayer requests are for other individuals.  It is a good practice that we have developed and done for about 14 years. 

My purpose in disclosing this practice is not to infer that it is the best practice nor that we never miss a week of doing it.  But rather, my hope is to provide one example of what can be done to stimulate thoughts as to what could be done to pray more faithfully and more effectively.  It is my hope that the reader both disclose to trusted Christian friends his or her own condition and their own specific request for prayer and that the reader learn about the conditions of other Christian friends and their specific  prayer requests so that the reader can pray for others more faithfully and effectively. 

As another example, one of my friends has developed a prayer project for a wide community of friends and uses emails and a web site to inform others of specific prayer needs of individuals within that community and to request prayer for them from the group.  Obviously, these prayer requests are less intimate (specifically disclosing less to avoid personal embarassment), but the prayer requests reach many more people and address more general prayer concerns.

So, whatever practice you use, “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints”. 

And, give praise reports!  Don’t only request prayers;  inform others how God has answered the prayers!  “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.  Notice how “pray without ceasing” is sandwiched between “Rejoice always” and “in everything give thanks“.  We should give thanks and praise God for answered prayers!

Prayer, with both prayer requests and praise reports, is a way of showing “love with faith” which is mentioned in the concluding paragraph of today’s Scripture.  Prayer shows others that you care about them and love them.  Prayer shows faith that you believe God will answer your prayers and help them.  Praise reports develop faith that God will answer prayers.  “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Verse 23.  “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    

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ 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. 

²⁸ So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself;   ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,  ³⁰ because we are members of His body.  ³¹ FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.  ³² This mystery is great;  but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 

³³ Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”  Ephesians 5:22-33. 

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There is so much in today’s Scripture about which one could write.  “Limited Atonement” and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “L” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation” come first to mind.  One could write about the relationship of Christ to His Church being described as the marriage relationship between husband and wife.  One could write about the different roles and duties of a husband and a wife.  And, there are additional profitable things in today’s Scripture upon which to meditate and write.  This introduction not only provides an “excuse” for me to write about one topic among many, this introduction also illustrates the richness of God’s Word. 

Today, I want to write about the phrase:  “cleansed her by the washing of water with the word“.  The Word of God cleanses us.  We take a shower or bath every day.  Why don’t we read God’s Word every day?!  And, the Word of God does more than cleanse us. 

For today’s devotion, I want us to meditate on the following verses which teach us about the Word of God and what it does for us.  Hopefully, this review will encourage us by what the Word of God can do for us.  Hopefully, this review will motivate us to read God’s Word and meditate upon it and abide in it. 

“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.”  Psalm 18:30

“In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust;  I shall not be afraid.  What can mere man do to me?”  Psalm 56:4

“The unfolding of Your words gives light;  It gives understanding to the simple.”  Psalm 119:130

“He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.”  Proverbs 16:20

“Every word of God is tested;  He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”  Proverbs 30:5

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”  Isaiah 40:8

““For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”  Isaiah 66:2

““Is not My word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  Jeremiah 23:29

“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord GOD.”  Ezekiel 12:28

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’””  Matthew 4:4

““Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24-25.

“But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.””  Luke 11:28