Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²³  So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias.

 ²⁴  And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen

 ²⁵  to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

 ²⁶  And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias;  and he was added to the eleven apostles.”  Acts 1:21-26. 

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Not much is mentioned about Matthias in Scripture about Matthias.  When I did a BibleGateway keyword search, his name only appeared in this Scripture for today.

Yet, this Scripture informs us that Matthias accompanied Jesus and the rest of the apostles the whole time “beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He (Jesus) was taken up from us”.  That was only about three years, but it probably seemed like a lifetime for Matthias.

We can imagine Matthias quietly and patiently waiting in the shadows.  We can imagine Matthias not only witnessing Jesus but also witnessing Judas.  We can imagine that Matthias may have been skeptical of Judas and may have wondered why Judas was chosen to be one of the twelve disciples rather than himself. 

Most of us have been like Matthias at times of our lives.  We may witness and work in the shadows without honor or even recognition, while others, less qualified and less sincere than us (maybe they are even evil), seem to prosper and get all the honor and recognition.  We may fret.  We may envy.  

Psalm Chapter 37 may apply to Judas and Matthias.  Psalm Chapter 37 may apply to you.  Here is the link to the full chapter followed by a quote of the first 11 verses – Click here: Psalm 37 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

“¹  Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
    ²  For they will wither quickly like the grass
         And fade like the green herb.
    ³  Trust in the LORD and do good;
         Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
    ⁴  Delight yourself in the LORD;
         And He will give you the desires of your heart.
    ⁵  Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
    ⁶  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
         And your judgment as the noonday.
    ⁷  Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
         Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
         Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
    ⁸  Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret;  it leads only to evildoing.
    ⁹  For evildoers will be cut off,
         But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
    ¹⁰  Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
         And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
    ¹¹  But the humble will inherit the land
         And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”  Psalm 37:1-11.

 ¹⁴  These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”  Acts 1:12-14. 

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Place for Prayer should be free from distractions and accolades.  “So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the LORD.”  2 Kings 4:33  “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:6  Here, in today’s Scripture, likewise, we notice that they went up to the upper room to pray away from the crowds and the distractions. 

People of Prayer should include each of us.  In today’s Scripture, rather than just state the apostles went up to the upper room to pray, the Scripture mentions the individual names of each of them (Judas Iscariot, the only other one, was dead after he betrayed Jesus.)  Each of us is important.    Throughout Scripture, we see that prayer is not reserved for priests, ministers, and elders, but all people are commanded to pray from the greatest to the least.  “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:13-14.  In Jonah Chapter 3, we can learn a lesson where we read:  “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God;  and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.”  Jonah 3:5.  “But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.”  Jonah 3:8.   

 ¹¹  They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:9-11.

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It should make us think why the angels (“two men in white clothing”) changed the focus of the apostles from the Ascension to the Second Coming. 

Did the angels do so to lessen the sorrow of the apostles?  Maybe.  But, there was no indication of sorrow here in this text, although we can infer that the apostles would miss the bodily presence of Jesus.

Did the angels feel that the apostles were wasting time?  Maybe.  But, there was no indication of the apostles wasting time in this text.

Did the angels know that there was no spiritual meaning to the Ascension?  No!  There is abundant spiritual meaning to the Ascension!  For example, consider the following from The Westminister Larger Catechism. 

Question 53:  How was Christ exalted in his ascension?

Answer:  Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations, forty days after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head, triumphing over enemies, visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for men, to raise up our affections thither, and to prepare a place for us, where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the world.

The following Scripture and Reformed Confession answers the question as to why the angels changed the focus from the Ascension to the Second Coming.

“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.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-8. 

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”  Philippians 3:20.  

“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.  For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  Romans 8:23-25. 

“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3:11-12. 

“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,”  Titus 2:13.     

1 Peter 1:13
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  1 John 3:2-3.

We will close with the following from The Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 52.  What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?

Answer.  That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory.

 ³  To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

 ⁴  Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;

 ⁵  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 ⁶  So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

 ⁷  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

 ⁸  but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Acts 1:1-8.

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Good witnesses observe and remember and accurately recount important facts.  “To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.”  Acts 1:3.

Good witnesses know the limits of their testimony and do not attempt to testify as to things about which they do not know.  “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;”  Acts 1:6-7. 

Good witnesses boldly speak the truth in love.  “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  “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”  Ephesians 4:15  “but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.”  1 Thessalonians 2:2

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There is a lot of difference between the testimony of one who testifies that God loves everybody and the testimony of another who testifies that God only loves His elect.  Both testimonies cannot be true.

There is a lot of difference between the testimony of one who testifies that Jesus died for everybody and the testimony of another who testifies that Jesus only died for His elect.  Both testimonies cannot be true. 

There is a lot of difference between the testimony of one who testifies that that man is only severely affected by sin (but is able on his own to produce his own works and his own will to secure his own salvation) and the testimony of another man is dead in sin (and is unable on his own to produce his own works or even just his own will to secure his own salvation) .  Both testimonies cannot be true.

There is a lot of difference between the testimony of one who testifies that man is ultimately in charge of whether or not he will be saved based on his own free will and the testimony of another who testifies that God is ultimately in charge of whether or not a man will be saved based on His sovereign election alone.  Both testimonies cannot be true.

There is a lot of difference between the testimony of one who testifies that God only delights in lovingkindness and the testimony of another who testifies that God delights in both lovingkindness and justice.  Both testimonies cannot be true.

How do we know which testimony is true?

By our own desires and feelings?  By some mystic or special revelation?  By the teaching of someone we respect or like?

By Scripture!

One of “The Five Solas of the Reformation” is “Sola Scriptura”, Latin words meaning “Scripture alone”.  Here is what Rev. Rodney Kleyn of the Trinity Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan stated about it:

 ¹⁹  Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

 ²⁰  Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them;  the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

 ²¹  So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”

 ²²  Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!”

 ²³  Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die;  yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”  John 21:18-23. 

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Jesus commands us:  “Follow me!”  We should not hesitate to make sure that everyone else has the same marching orders.

As parents, we are all too familiar with a similar reaction of one of our children when we ask that child to do something.  That child will typically react by hesitating and exclaiming:  “What about my brother!  Why does he not have to do this job!”

We would do well to remember Jesus’ words in Luke 14:27
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

This duty may be clear, but who has the strength and faithfulness, to even just figuratively, carry his own cross to his own crucifixion?

But, there is hope!

John 10:4
“When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:27
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

But, our focus should not just be on us, dumb sheep, and our own ability to hear Christ’s voice and our own ability to follow.  We have a Good Shepherd Who brings us to where we need to be. 

“²  He makes me lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside quiet waters.
    ³  He restores my soul;
         He guides me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name’s sake.
    ⁴  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I fear no evil, for You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:2-4.

 ¹⁷  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things;  You know that I love You ” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  John 21:15-17.

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Jesus redeemed Peter by leading Peter to confess his love for Jesus three times, the same number of times that Peter previously denied Jesus. 

And, Jesus led Peter to recognize that love truly does things for the person loved.  Just as we learned yesterday in the first part of John Chapter 21, Jesus did not just tell His disciples that He loved them, Jesus did things for His disciples.  Jesus provided another appearance of  Himself to Thomas.  Jesus provided the miracle and instruction as to how to catch the fish.  Jesus provided the fish.  Jesus provided the bread.  Jesus provided the grilling.  Jesus provided the serving.  Jesus provided the breakfast.  Jesus provided another comforting appearance that indeed He was risen. 

Think of your spouse.  You could tell your spouse many times that you love her.  But, she has the right to expect that you will demonstrate your love for her by doing things for her, by caring for her.

Accordingly, and led by Jesus’ example, we are called to show our love for Jesus by tending Jesus’ sheep. 

Who is adequate to tend Jesus’ sheep?

But, there is hope!

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. 

^” ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
         ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
         FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
         WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’ ”  Matthew 2:6.

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

Because of the fact that the Church is Jesus’ body and Jesus is the Head of the Church, we can have even more confidence that Jesus will use His body to accomplish His work to tend His sheep.  Jesus gives gifts and ministries to accomplish His work.     

“⁴  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

 ⁵  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

 ⁶  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

 ⁷  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 ⁸  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

 ⁹  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

 ¹⁰  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.

 ¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

…

  ¹⁸  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

… 

 ²⁷  Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

 ²⁸  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 18, 27-28. 

In conclusion, here is how Ephesians 4:11-13. states it.  “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;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

 ²  Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

 ³  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We will also come with you.”  They went out and got into the boat;  and that night they caught nothing.

 ⁴  But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach;  yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

 ⁵  So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”  They answered Him, “No.”

 ⁶  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.”  So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

 ⁷  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”  So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

 ⁸  But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

 ⁹  So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.

 ¹⁰  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”

 ¹¹  Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three;  and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

 ¹³  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

 ¹⁴  This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.”  John 21:1-14.

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First of all, it is interesting that Jesus chose “Doubting Thomas” as one of the disciples to whom He manifested Himself.  In the prior passage, Jesus sharply told him:  “… Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:29. 

There is an introductory lesson to be learned here.  We will be reproved, disciplined, and even scourged by our LORD.  Hebrews 12:4-17.  But, let us confess our sins, turn around our behavior, and help others.     “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”  Proverbs 27:6

The key word for this Scripture is “manifest”.  As we study Scripture, we should ask:  “How does Jesus manifest Himself in this Scripture?”

In this Scripture for today, Jesus manifests Himself as our Provider.  Jesus provided another appearance of  Himself to Thomas.  Jesus provided the miracle and instruction as to how to catch the fish.  Jesus provided the fish.  Jesus provided the bread.  Jesus provided the grilling.  Jesus provided the serving.  Jesus provided the breakfast.  Jesus provided another comforting appearance that indeed He was risen.

In beloved Psalm Chapter 23, we learn how the LORD is our Shepherd, our Provider.  In John Chapter 10, Jesus identifies Himself as that Good Shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd;  the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:11. 

In conclusion, we should have no doubt that God provides all that we need and abundantly more.  “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.”  Psalm 84:11  “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.

 ²⁶  After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

 ²⁷  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands;  and reach here your hand and put it into My side;  and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

 ²⁸  Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

 ²⁹  Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:24-29. 

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Like Thomas, we naturally prefer to see rather than to believe.  Some even go as far as stating:  “Seeing is believing.”  But, we know that seeing is not believing from this Scripture and other Scriptures. 

We are reminded of the Scriptures from the February 23, 2011 devotion.  “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  Romans 8:24-25.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith …”  Hebrews Chapter 11.  

Our righteousness is not based on our works, but rather, our righteousness is based on our faith.

^“1  What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

 ²  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

 ³  For what does the Scripture say?  “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

 ⁴  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

 ⁵  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

 ⁶  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
    ⁷  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
         AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
    ⁸  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”  Romans 4:1-8. 

And ultimately, our faith is based on the work of Christ who has procured our faith as one of the saving gifts of His perfect sacrifice based on His death on the cross.  “Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  …”  Canons of Dordt.  “…  “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:26.   

We experience lack of sight, and the consequential need for us to have faith, throughout our lives.  “for we walk by faith, not by sight–”  2 Corinthians 5:7.                

“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.