Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3. 

Psalm 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

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

James 1:17
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

“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.

In conclusion, it is a blessing to read these Scriptures again.  Generally, they help to build our faith.  Specifically, in the context of today’s Scripture, they provide the cure for arrogance.  When we more fully understand, acknowledge, and act in accordance with this truth that we have received everything, then we recede from arrogance and dwell in humility and gratitude.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

¹⁹  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.  For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;

²⁰  and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

²¹  So then let no one boast in men.  For all things belong to you,

²²  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you,

²³  and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:16-23. 

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Today, we will focus on the statement:  “all things belong to you”.

First, there is the comfort of its inclusion in Scripture.  It is the truth, and we can rely on it.  But, there is more.

Second, there is the comfort that this statement is repeated in verses 21 and 22.  We can rely on the truth of a statement made only once in Scripture.  But, when a statement is repeated, that repetition is made for the purpose of emphasizing it, and we should accordingly pay greater attention to it and rely on it more.

Third, there is the comfort of the logic.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.  Likewise, because we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God, all things belong to us.

Fourth, we know that God loves us.  If God so loves us, “how will He not also … freely give us all things?”  “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39. 

Fifth, we know that God considers His children.  If God considers us His children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  “Ask, and it will be given to you;  seek, and you will find;  knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11.  

The Heidelberg Catechism must have considered the importance of “all things belong to you” in considering  this truth in its very first Question and Answer.

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.

How then should we live our lives?

Joyfully and confidently like children!  Children may not see all things belong to them, but they show that they believe it.  They know somehow that food, clothes, and shelter are provided to them.  They know they have a father who will provide all good things to them.  They don’t feel the need to carry a wallet or purse.  They don’t worry.  They are not anxious.  They play joyfully and confidently which shows that like the righteous, they live by faith.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?  And why are you worried about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow;  they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Matthew 6:25-33.   

Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

“10  According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it.  But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

11  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13  each man’s work will become evident;  for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.

14  If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss;  but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

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“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;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.

“For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:2.

We tend to think that if we were free from trials and tribulations, then we could do great work for our LORD.  Moreover, we tend to think that if we had more clear sight, then we could do great work for our LORD.

But, Hebrews Chapter 11 and other Scriptures make it clear that the Hall of Fame belongs to those Christians who had faith and acted upon their faith.  They had trials and tribulations, but they had faith and acted upon it.  They lacked sight, but they had faith and acted upon it.  Their works (based on their faith) endured, even though tested by fire, and their works are praised to this day.

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain …”  Hebrews 11:4.

“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death …”  Hebrews 11:5.

“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household …”  Hebrews 11:7.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”  Hebrews 11:8.

“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”  Hebrews 11:11.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;”  Hebrews 11:17.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.”  Hebrews 11:20.

“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”  Hebrews 11:21.

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.”  Hebrews 11:22.

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”  Hebrews 11:23.

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;  for he was looking to the reward.”  Hebrews 11:24-26.

And, the list goes on … ”  And all these, … gained approval through their faith, …”  Hebrews 11:39.

The Scripture for today makes it clear that the subject of this faith must be our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the foundation, and all of our works that endure must be built upon Christ.

So, we look to Christ and have faith and act upon that faith in Christ.  By faith in Christ, we do those works which God prepared for us to do.  “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.

What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one;  but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers;  you are God’s field, God’s building.”  1 Corinthians 3:1-9. 

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“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.

“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.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.  

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”  Ephesians 4:11-12.

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

Matthew 16:18
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;  and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 2:19-22.

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

¹⁰  For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

¹¹  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

¹²  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

¹³  which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”  1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

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Some gifts of God are “earthly” that we can see and more easily understand and appreciate.  “And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart.”  Psalm 104:15

But, other gifts are spiritual gifts that we cannot see, and we have more difficulty understanding and appreciating them.  In the very last chapter, we read about some of these specific spiritual gifts.  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30.  More generally, we have received every spiritual blessing.  “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,”  Ephesians 1:3.

Who, by themselves, fully understands and appreciates those spiritual blessings?! 

And, there is more need for our precious Holy Spirit to reveal to us and help us understand and appreciate spiritual gifts than just caused by the fact that that we cannot see them.  So to speak, some of these spiritual gifts are either wrapped in plain brown paper or are wrapped in things that at first repel us.  For example, consider the following two examples. 

Hebrews 12:11
“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.”

“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. 

There are many experiences that we have that were repelling at first thought, but later, sometimes much later, we realized the spiritual blessing hidden in those experiences. 

But, there is hope!  We have the Holy Spirit to help us be aware, understand, and appreciate those spiritual blessings. 

In conclusion, let us not only think of gifts from God in terms of quantity, quality, and variety (even though that thought alone is awesome).  Let us also think of gifts from God as being accompanied by the Spirit of the Giver.  Let us not only seek God’s presents;  let us also seek God’s presence.

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Man is proud of his wisdom.  He is proud of his wisdom to do good works which wise works he thinks deserves salvation.  He is even proud of his wisdom to decide to accept Christ which wise “free-will” decision he thinks deserves salvation. 

We see this pride in Naaman, a general in the Syrian army, “a great man”, “highly respected”, and a “valiant warrior”.  Naaman had leprosy and sought out Elisha in Israel to be healed.

“So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha.  Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”

But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’  Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned and went away in a rage.

Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”  So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.”  2 Kings 5:9-14. 

Stories like this one in the Old Testament were written for our benefit to help us understand that we do not come to salvation through our own wisdom, but rather, we come to salvation through what appears to some as foolishness.     

God will not share even one percent credit for man’s salvation with man.  Man’s works do not earn any credit.  Man’s “free-will” does not earn any credit.  Man’s wisdom does not earn any credit.  “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.  God gets all the credit for man’s salvation.

“so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:29-31.

“Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints” (the U-L-I-P of “TULIP”) appear as foolishness to some, “but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”.  These are all “His doing“.