Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

²⁶  When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt.

²⁷  “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”  Matthew 17:24-27.  

Here we are commanded to respect what is right in the sight of all men and do it if possible.  The following Scripture of Romans 12:15-18 elaborates this attitude that we should have.  Although we may have no duty to do what is requested of us, although we may be persecuted, we should respect and do what is right in the sight of all men, so long as we do not sin (which is inferred by the words “if possible”).  “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”    

^“14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

 ¹⁵  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 ¹⁶  Be of the same mind toward one another;  do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.  Do not be wise in your own estimation.

 ¹⁷  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

 ¹⁸  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”  Romans 12:15-18. 

Even though Jesus and Peter had no duty to pay this tribute tax, Jesus recognized that others thought it was right that they pay such a tribute tax.  Therefore, Jesus did not want to offend them and did pay this tribute tax. 

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8. 

But, we have a Helper to help us and guide us in doing what is right.  Just as Jesus helped and guided Peter in paying this tribute tax by the miracle of the tax money in the fish, we have the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16-17. 

“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 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.  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-16.

²⁷  “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  Matthew 16:24-27.  

Two insights came to me.  The first insight is based on the context.  Notice the context.  This passage of Scripture is immediately below verses 21-23:  “…  Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. … But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Matthew 16:23.  Jesus showed how He was denying Himself and taking up His cross.  In other words, according to this first insight, Jesus was thus calling His disciples to costly discipleship only by first showing His example from which His disciples could follow His example. 

The second insight is based on the parallel account and section of Scripture which is Mark 8:34-38.  In these verses, we first see Mark 8:35 which adds the important phrase “and the gospel’s” to read:  “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”  Mark 8:35.  We then come to verse 38 which is an entirely new and different verse than what we read in our Scripture for today which was Matthew 16:24-27.  Here is that verse 38.   “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”  Mark 8:38. 

In other words, according to this second insight, Jesus was not just calling His disciples to a life of self-deprivation and hardship to live a life like an ascetic monk who practices “strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline” ( Click here: ascetic – Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary ), Jesus was calling His disciples to make service to Christ and the Gospel their number one goal in life.  

In conclusion, yes, discipleship is costly.  But, first, we should fix our eyes on Jesus as the example whom we should follow.  We also should not view discipleship just as a religious practice of strict self-denial.  But, second, we should deny ourselves and carry our cross toward the goal of discipleship which is service to Christ and the Gospel.

 ²³  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”  Matthew 16:21-23.

We can readily imagine that Peter may be thinking that God would not allow such horrific events to happen to His beloved Son.  We can also readily imagine that Peter was also thinking that the continued teaching and continued miracles that Jesus was doing would best advance God’s kingdom.  “God forbid it, Lord!  This shall never happen to You.” 

But, as we know, God’s justice demanded that even His beloved Son Jesus suffer and die in order to atone for the sins of His people, the Elect.  As we also know, God’s kingdom was advanced much more after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

We need to be prepared and to accept the fact that God’s interest may not be what appears to be man’s interest.  Man’s interest is long life and comfort.  God’s interest is productive life and service to others and even ourselves. 

That does not necessarily mean that our life will necessarily be short and painful.  We also find that “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;  And sent away the rich empty-handed.”  Luke 1:53  “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm 91:16

^{”  1}  Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 
   ²  Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget none of His benefits; 
   ³  Who pardons all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases; 
   ⁴  Who redeems your life from the pit,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 
   ⁵  Who satisfies your years with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:1-5.

“…  The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works. 
      He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
         And vegetation for the labor of man,
         So that he may bring forth food from the earth, 
      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 104:13-15.  

So, there will be sufferings and there will be comfort.  But, we can take comfort in the fact that our sufferings are not needless nor random.  Our sufferings have the purpose of service toward others.  “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.  But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;  and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”  2 Corinthians 1:5-7.  (Emphasis added).

Let me repeat.  Our sufferings and not needless nor random.  Our sufferings also have the purpose of service to our salvation.  The very first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism states:

“Question:  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.”  (Emphasis added)  

In any event, we know:  “… that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Romans 8:18

So, what will happen to us?  Will our life be short and painful or long and comfortable?  Later, the same disciple Peter asked about John.  “So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!”  John 21-22.  (Emphasis added).

Today’s devotion is Matthew 16:1-4.   

^“1  The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

 2  But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’

 3  “And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’  Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?

 4  “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.”  Matthew 16:1-4.  

Sometime after September 11, 2001, when many of us were wondering if things were out of control, I looked down the street in front of my home, and I saw the most beautiful rainbow and at the same time, I felt a sense of peace and impression that God was saying to me:  “Do not fear.  I am still on my throne in total control.”  Some could say I did not need that sign, and that would be true.  I did not ask nor seek for that sign.  But, God did give that sign to me.  After that time, I was not shaken nor worried about “9/11”.  I had peace.

So, I first want to state that we do receive signs, and we can appreciate and be thankful for them.  But, as this Scripture states, we should not seek after signs, at least in an improper way.

One way that we can improperly seek after signs is to be lazy and neglect Scripture.  We may want guidance and direction through the easy sign rather than through the more difficult study of Scripture.

A second way that we can improperly seek after signs is to try to obtain an excuse of not following Scripture.  We may not like the command and direction given by Scripture, and we hope for a sign that will give us an excuse to do the opposite of that command and direction, an excuse to do what we really want to do.

A third way that we can improperly seek after signs is that we improperly prefer “sight and satisfaction” over “faith and hope”.  As I study the Scriptures, I have become more and more convinced that God wants us to have faith and hope, more than sight and satisfaction.

After “Doubting” Thomas saw, heard, and felt Jesus, he thought he “believed”.  But, “Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed?   Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.'”  John 20:29.  (Emphasis added.) 

“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.  (Emphasis added.)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”   Hebrews 11:1.  (Emphasis added)

If we see it, hear it, or feel it, we no longer have faith, because it is seen, heard, or felt.  There is no conviction of things unseen.

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?”  Romans 8:24.  (Emphasis added).

We should simply believe, accepting God’s Word by the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen that is faith.  We should not withhold our belief until we see, hear, or feel.  That is not faith.

Instead of thinking: “Show me one more sign, and I will believe.”, we should think: “Thank you God for what you have already shown me!  I already believe you and trust you.  You don’t need to prove anything now.”

We do not need more signs and wonders.  We need to read Scriptures more and simply believe and follow the promises of God, commands, and direction that we read from the Scriptures.  Let us appreciate Scriptures more.

If God shows us signs and wonders that is great.  Praise God!  But, if He does not show us signs and wonders when we want, we should appreciate that we are allowed to live by faith which is pleasing to God.

God blesses us more by His silence which allows us to live by faith than when He shows us signs and wonders which require no faith.  Let us also appreciate the times of His silence more which allows us to walk by faith and please Him.

 ³¹  So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.”  Matthew 15:29-31.  (Emphasis added.)   

Although we can not heal, we can follow Jesus’ example by generally doing good to a large number of people.  Like Jesus, we do good so that God will be glorified.  Matthew 5:16 states:  “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.”

2 Corinthians 9 tells us to sow bountifully, so we will reap bountifully.  God loves a cheerful giver.  God will supply the seed and increase the harvest of our righteousness.  And what is the result?  They will glorify God.    

^“6  Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

 ⁷  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

 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.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-14.  (Emphasis added.)