Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 20:1-8. 

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “You shall also say to the sons of Israel:

‘Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones.  I will also set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his offspring to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and to profane My holy name.  If the people of the land, however, should ever disregard that man when he gives any of his offspring to Molech, so as not to put him to death, then I Myself will set My face against that man and against his family, and I will cut off from among their people both him and all those who play the harlot after him, by playing the harlot after Molech.

‘As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.  You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.  You shall keep My statutes and practice them;  I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”  Leviticus 20:1-8.

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Beware of dismissing this Scripture through thinking on either side of the spectrum.  On one side of the spectrum, we may dismiss this Scripture thinking:  “I would never, ever, engage in human sacrifice!”  And, on the other side of the spectrum, we may dismiss this Scripture thinking:  “I am a spiritual person who has gifts.”  One who uses “divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead” was called “detestable” by the LORD in Deuteronomy 18:9-14.

It helps us to humble ourselves and first consider Who God is as The Almighty Sovereign God and then who we are as humans.  

God named Himself as “the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”.  See Exodus 34:14.  

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.  You shall not worship them or serve them;  for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  Exodus 20:4-6.

“You shall fear only the LORD your God;  and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.  You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God;  otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.”  Deuteronomy 6:13-15.  

“For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”  Deuteronomy 4:24.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:1-3. 

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.

But, there is hope!

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7. 

“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 1:30-31.

“… 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. 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  …  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:16 and 22-24.

“…  I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”  Verse 8.  

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:33-34.

“‘When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.  The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt;  I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:33-34.

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“You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 23:9.

“Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard;  you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger.  I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:10.

“There shall be one standard for you;  it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the LORD your God.’”  Leviticus 24:22.

“There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.”  Joshua 8:35.

“The LORD protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.” Psalm 146:9.

“Thus says the LORD, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor.  Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow;  and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”  Jeremiah 22:3. 

“Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;  and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor;  and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’”  Zechariah 7:9. 

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another;  for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  Love does no wrong to a neighbor;  therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”  Romans 13:8-10.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;  I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink;  I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;  naked, and you clothed Me;  I was sick, and you visited Me;  I was in prison, and you came to Me.’”  Matthew 25:34-36.

“remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Ephesians 2:12-13. 

“Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;  and they have testified to your love before the church.  …”  3 John 1:5-6.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:32.

“‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God;  I am the LORD.”   Leviticus 19:32. 

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“Wisdom is with aged men,
With long life is understanding.” Job 12:12.

“Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2.

“7 “Were you the first man to be born,
Or were you brought forth before the hills?
8 “Do you hear the secret counsel of God,
And limit wisdom to yourself?
9 “What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that we do not?
10 “Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
Older than your father.” Job 15:7-10.

“Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” Hebrews 12:9-10.

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”  Deuteronomy 5:16.

“27 It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not reject forever,
32 For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.” Lamentations 3:27-32.

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.  For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.  Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.  Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.  For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?  But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”  1 Peter 2:13-20.

“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  James 4:6. 

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:26-31.

“26 ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying.  27 You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard.  28 You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves:  I am the LORD.

29 ‘Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land will not fall to harlotry and the land become full of lewdness.  30 You shall keep My sabbaths and revere My sanctuary;  I am the LORD.

31 ‘Do not turn to mediums or spiritists;  do not seek them out to be defiled by them.  I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:26-31.

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“When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.  There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD;  and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.  You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.  For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.”  Deuteronomy 18:9-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:19:20-25.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2019&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“‘When you enter the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden.  Three years it shall be forbidden to you;  it shall not be eaten.  But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.  In the fifth year you are to eat of its fruit, that its yield may increase for you;  I am the LORD your God.”   Leviticus 19:19:23-25. 

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It is tough enough to wait three years before eating any fruit.  But, that practice may yield the fruits of faith and patience.

But, then on the fourth year, we need to wait another year before eating the fruit.  “But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.”  

But, that practice of praise may remind us of the foremost command.  “Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”   Deuteronomy 6:4-5. 

But, there are promises!

“In the fifth year you are to eat of its fruit, that its yield may increase for you;  I am the LORD your God.”  Verse 25. 

“9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:19.

“‘You are to keep My statutes.  You shall not breed together two kinds of your cattle;  you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together.”   Leviticus 19:19.

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We may not know the purpose of the command that the cattle which are to be bred are not to be divided between two kinds of cattle.  We may not know the purpose of the command that the seed which are to be sown are not to be divided between two kinds of seed.  We may not know the purpose of the command that the garment to be worn are not to be divided between two kinds of material mixed together. 

But, we can use the general theme of these commands to prevent division in order to meditate on the value of oneness.  How often our thoughts are divided!  How often our devotion is divided!  We can meditate on the following foremost command.

“Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

“One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”  Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL!  THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD;  AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’”  Mark 12:28-30.

We may be divided in our thoughts.  We may be divided in our devotion.  But, God is not divided in His thoughts and His devotion.  “The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”  

“But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no.  For the Son of God, Christ Jesus, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not yes and no, but is yes in Him.  For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes;  therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:18-20.

“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.

“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.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 19:9-16.

“9 ‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  10 Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger.  I am the LORD your God.

11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.  12 You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God;  I am the LORD.

13 ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him.  The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.  14 You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God;  I am the LORD.

15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.  16 You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor;  I am the LORD.”  Leviticus 19:9-16.

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As highlighted in bold italic, we see the LORD direct attention to Himself four times.  Therefore, our first thought should be:  “Who is the LORD?”  

“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.

Then, as we think about the LORD and His delight in “lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth”, we can see how He exercises these qualities through these commands.

We see the LORD’S lovingkindness in verses 9-10.  We see the LORD’S justice in verse 15.  We see the LORD’s righteousness in the other verses, and the LORD’s virtues are confined within these examples.

We are so pleased to proclaim the excellencies of the LORD.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” Psalm 89:14.

“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.

We also are so pleased to practice these qualities with the LORD giving us the will to do them and with the LORD working in us for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:10.

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.  …  I am the LORD your God.”  Leviticus 19:1-3.  

“You shall keep My statutes and practice them;  I am the LORD who sanctifies you.”  Leviticus 20:8.