Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Just as it is written,
         “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
         WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  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 8:29-39.

 ²⁶  “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

 ²⁷  and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.

 ²⁸  “Do not marvel at this;  for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

 ²⁹  and will come forth;  those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  John 5:24-29.

What is this eternal life?  Just because we cannot comprehensively list all of the glorious elements does not mean that we should not at least consider some of the elements or benefits. 

It is forgiveness.

^“1  How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
         Whose sin is covered!
    ²  How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
         And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
    ³  When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
         Through my groaning all day long.
    ⁴  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
         My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
    ⁵  I acknowledged my sin to You,
         And my iniquity I did not hide;
         I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
         And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
    ⁶  Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
         Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
    ⁷  You are my hiding place;  You preserve me from trouble;
         You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
    ⁸  I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
         I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
    ⁹  Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
         Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
         Otherwise they will not come near to you.
    ¹⁰  Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
         But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
    ¹¹  Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
         And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:1-11.

It is righteousness.

Romans 5:17
“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

It is knowing God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Spirit (the Holy Spirit), and it is fellowship with them.

It is joy and peace.

Psalm 16:11
“You will make known to me the path of life;  In Your presence is fullness of joy;  In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Isaiah 55:12
“For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace;  The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Romans 14:17
“for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” 

 ²⁰  “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;  and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.

 ²¹  “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

 ²²  “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

 ²³  so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”  John 5:18-23. 

This devotion covers two points of which the second point is the main theme of this devotion. 

The first point is briefly covered.  Jesus’ statement “the Son also gives life to whom He wishes“ reminds us of “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a Reformed Doctrine.  This statement reminds us of Romans 9:15-16:    “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”

The second point is the main theme of this devotion.  Jesus’ statement “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” reminds of Luke 10:16, John 8:42, and 1 John 2:23.  

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me;  and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”  Luke 10:16.

^“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.”  John 8:42 

^“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father;  the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.”  1 John 2:23. 

In conclusion, the following Psalm Chapter 2 warns of the consequences of failing to honor Jesus, the Son of God, and it concludes with the blessing upon those who do honor Jesus, the Son of God. 

“¹  Why are the nations in an uproar
         And the peoples devising a vain thing?
    ²  The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
    ³  “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!”
    ⁴  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them.
    ⁵  Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying,
    ⁶  “But as for Me, I have installed My King
         Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
    ⁷  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    ⁸  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    ⁹  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”
    ¹⁰  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth.
    ¹¹  Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling.
    ¹²  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
         For His wrath may soon be kindled
         How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:1-12.

 ²  Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.

 ³  In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;

 ⁴  for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]

 ⁵  A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

 ⁶  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”

 ⁷  The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

 ⁸  Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”

 ⁹  Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.  Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

 ¹⁰  So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”

 ¹¹  But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.'”

 ¹²  They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?”

 ¹³  But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.

 ¹⁴  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well;  do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”

 ¹⁵  The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

 ¹⁶  For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

 ¹⁷  But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”  John 5:1-17.

Doesn’t it seem like Jesus did a lot of healing on the Sabbath?  Why didn’t Jesus do less healing on the Sabbath?

Why didn’t Jesus just tell the sick man:  “Get up and walk.”?  Why did Jesus command him to pick up his pallet?

This all seems to be a set-up for our theme for this devotion:  “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”  

This can be an encouragement to us who tend to think of God as just an observer having his arms folded and watching what we will do.  In a prior devotion, I emphasized Jesus’ promise:  “I will build My church.”  And, there is much more work that the Holy Trinity does.

^“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24. 

We have a God Who intercedes!  We have a God Who works!  Praise God!!!

Isaiah 59:16
“And He saw that there was no man,And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;  Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.”

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27. 

Romans 8:34
“who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

What is our response?

 ⁴⁸  So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

 ⁴⁹  The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

 ⁵⁰  Jesus said to him, “Go;  your son lives.”  The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

 ⁵¹  As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.

 ⁵²  So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better.  Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

 ⁵³  So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”;  and he himself believed and his whole household.

 ⁵⁴  This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”  John 4:46-54. 

Today, somehow, we will need to be like the nobleman.  “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.” 

We may not need healing for our son.  But, we will need to trust Jesus and His word somehow.

For me today, as I go to work, I need to trust Jesus that He will supply all of my financial needs.  Others may have similar financial needs or they may have other needs.  But, we all have needs and troubles for which we need to trust Jesus and His word.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”  Psalm 34:19.

Let us also realize that the benefit can be much more than a delivery from our particular financial need or other need.  We read in verse 53:  “… and he himself believed and his whole household”.

This possible additional benefit, beyond such getting our particular need supplied or getting delivered from a particular trouble, is receiving saving faith resulting in eternal life, and sometimes not only for ourselves but also for our whole household.  Is there anything more important?!

It may be tough for us to believe.  Sometimes, Jesus healed by touching or by even a more dramatic display such as for the healing of the blind man when Jesus “… spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,”  John 9:6.  But, here in the Scripture for today, Jesus simply told the nobleman.  “Go;  your son lives.” 

We should be inspired by the example of the nobleman.  “The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.”       

God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not base our trust in what we expect and see.  God wants us to trust Him, no matter what we expect and see.

If we trust in just what we expect and see, such as money, then we will love and serve just what we expect and see, such as money.  However, if we trust in God, no matter what we expect and see, we will love God.

We should not be anxious, particularly about money.  Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:19, and many other verses assure us that God will take care of us.

It may also help us to not be anxious, if we understand that God wants to create, build and finish our faith in Him.  How can He best do that?  God often helps us in unexpected and different ways so that we do not just trust in what we expect and see.  We just trust God to help us and get us through our struggles somehow.

So, we believe Jesus and His word, and we start off this Monday morning.

 ⁴⁵  So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.”  John 4:43-45. 

If one drew a straight line from the middle of Samaria, where Jesus talked to the woman at the well in the previous Scripture, to Cana, where we will next read of Jesus healing the nobleman’s son, this line would cross over Nazareth.  Accordingly, one could reasonably think that Jesus would stop at Nazareth and spend some time there, Jesus’ hometown where He lived as a boy and grew up.  However, at least in this Scripture, nothing is stated at least here about a visit to Nazareth at this time.

In Matthew Chapter 13, we do read about Jesus’ visit to Nazareth, maybe at a different time, although it may be at this same time, which gives us a better understanding of Jesus’ statement:  “a prophet has no honor in his own country”.

“⁵³  When Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.

 ⁵⁴  He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?

 ⁵⁵  “Is not this the carpenter’s son?  Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?

 ⁵⁶  “And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this man get all these things?”

 ⁵⁷  And they took offense at Him.  But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”

 ⁵⁸  And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  Matthew 13:53-58.

So, what is the significance of this John 4:43-45 Scripture? 

For some of us, Christians, at some times, we may need to leave the comfort of home to more effectively perform our ministry elsewhere.  This Scripture can be of encouragement to us for such times.

We should recognize that there are those who may be called to minister in their hometowns for there entire lives.  This Scripture should not bother them.  Also, for others, they may be at home for awhile, this Scripture should also not bother them;  they should be at peace and enjoy their time at home.

We can and should trust God to place us in the Body of Christ where He wants and when He wants to do it.  We should not think necessarily:  “Oh, no, I will live the rest of my life in Poduk, Iowa!”  (No offense to Poduk, if there is actually such a place.  It may be a great place to live.  )

As a personal example, I grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, and I still have a lot of good friends in the Muskegon – Grand Rapids area.  Although St. Petersburg, Florida, where I live is a great city, I probably would have cried a lot and been miserable around 1977 when I left home to go to law school in St. Petersburg if I allowed myself to think such thoughts.

1 Corinthians 12:18
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”

God gives us all the grace that we need to deal with any situation.  2 Corinthians 12:9  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

And, we should not think of this grace as just “bare bones” grace.  God does not give the minimum of grace, just enough to get by.

God’s grace is lavish.  “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 9:32.  “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

In conclusion, it is my personal testimony, after living 33 years many miles away from home, that God has filled my life with so many good things, including wonderful visits back home (with the last time being a September fishing trip to Canada with three of my college buddies).  “… the LORD is upright;  He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”  Psalm 92:15.

 ⁴¹  Many more believed because of His word;

 ⁴²  and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  John 4:39-42. 

This devotion reminds me of the Gideons.  In yesterday’s devotion, I wrote a little bit about my failure or inability to be a “soul-winner”.  One of the things that I did to deal with that fact was become a Gideon.  I thought:  “If I am not good about verbally telling others about my faith, the least I can do is help distribute Bibles.”  (Although I am currently inactive, I am still a Gideon.  I continue to pay my dues and give occasionally and admire their good work.)

We may fail or falter in giving our testimony, but God’s word neither fails nor falters.

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

Don’t be discouraged if others do not give you credit. 

Like the men of Samaria, some may want to avoid giving credit to the one who shared their faith, so we should not be discouraged.  Through God’s grace and power, we may “reap” even if they quietly, and behind the scenes, check out things by themselves by reading the Bible or attending church elsewhere. 

By no means do I want to minimize the importance of preaching as the means of grace.

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 25:

Question 65:  “Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed? 

Answer:  From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments.”

In conclusion, today’s Scripture immediately comes to the rescue.  Although we may feel ashamed about our failure or inability to win souls, we can help distribute God’s word and invite people to our church.  We are reminded that God’s word is like fire and like a hammer which shatters a rock.  We are reminded that preaching is the means of grace, and we can support our ministers by our offerings, our prayers, and our encouragement.

 ³³  So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”

 ³⁴  Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.

 ³⁵  “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.

 ³⁶  “Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal;  so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

 ³⁷  “For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’

 ³⁸  “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”  John 4:31-38. 

As shared in the “About Me” tag of my web site – Click here: About me « Reformed Doctrine Blog : “Although I grew up in the Christian Reformed Church in Muskegon, Michigan, I moved to Florida in 1977 to go to law school, and I stayed here in Florida.  I attended and was a member, even a lay leader, in a large range of churches from Assembly of God to Baptist to Calvary Chapel to United Methodist to nondenominational churches and small fellowships.”

In some of the churches, committees, conferences, and retreats that I attended, there was such an emphasis on “soul-winning” that, I, for one, felt guilty about either my failure or inability to win souls.  It is hard, even now, years later, to shake this feeling, particularly when I read Scripture such as today’s Scripture.  And, I also tend to want to justify myself for my failure or inability to win souls, or much worse, I also tend to want to twist Scripture to make me look good.  As I write this devotion, I must admit and confront these feelings and tendencies. 

Many of you out there can more fully and better explain this Scripture.  When I hear your sermons or read your commentaries, with God’s grace, your rebuke, exhortation, and encouragement will help me and others.

So, I will limit my commentary to the hope that I see in verse 34.  “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”  This verse reminds me of the following verses which speak of God’s work.   (Emphasis is added to the following Scripture.) 

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.” 

“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.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.

“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. 

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

Ephesians 1:11
“also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”

In conclusion, we tend to think that Christ’s work ended when He died on the cross, and that the presence of every person either in heaven or hell is solely our personal responsibility, but the main verse in the Scripture for today and other Scripture teaches us and reminds us that Christ will faithfully accomplish His promise and His work to build His church.

 ²⁹  “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done;  this is not the Christ, is it?”

 ³⁰  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”  John 4:27-30.

What has Christ done for you?  Although we all can and should generally say at some point of time:  “eternal life”, we should pay attention to the fact that this woman of Samaria was specific as to what Christ had done for her.  This is what a good witness will do, be specific. 

We are reminded of the specific witness of the blind man who was healed.  “He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know;  one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”  John 9:25

We tend to get in trouble when we try to universalize. 

What if the blind man considered that Christ did not heal all blind men, and the blind man only said something to the effect:  “Christ said:  ‘I am the Light of the world.’ “? 

What if the woman of Samaria considered that Christ did not tell everyone all the things that they did, and the woman of Samaria only said something to the effect:  “Christ said:  ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’ “?

Although such general testimony would be true, such general testimony would not give glory to God as He intends.  We remember the words of Jesus.  “And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents;  but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  John 9:2-3. 

Although such general testimony would be true, such general testimony would not develop hope and trust in God as He intends. 

^“4  We will not conceal them from their children,
         But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
         And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
    ⁵  For He established a testimony in Jacob
         And appointed a law in Israel,
         Which He commanded our fathers
         That they should teach them to their children,
    ⁶  That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born,
         That they may arise and tell them to their children,
    ⁷  That they should put their confidence in God
         And not forget the works of God,
         But keep His commandments,”  Psalm 78:4-7.

So, are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not healed everyone? 

Are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not delivered everyone from their financial troubles?

Are you going to keep silent about what God has specifically done for you just because God has not rescued everyone from physical danger?

In conclusion, what was the result of the following specific testimony and simple invitation of the woman of Samaria, which even contained a humble question?  “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done;  this is not the Christ, is it?”  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”  John 4:29-30.