Author: Reformed Baptista

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 45

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment
10056355054_14e91113d8

Photo : The City of Toronto

Day 45

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the Creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain;…”

Scripture Lookup

Ezekiel 11:5.

Acts 15: 18.

Reflection

We live in an era of information overload. Why do I need to know what so-and-so celebrity who lives thousands of miles away and whom I’ve never met eats, wears, and does? Why are televisions universal these days, popping up at restaurants, dentists’ offices, and airports, streaming constantly whatever topic is fashionable at the moment? It’s enough to make one want to crawl into a cave and live life as a hermit!

Yet God knows everything there is to know. His knowledge knows no limits. Not only does He know what Mr. Celebrity ate this morning, He knows what he was thinking when he ate it, how that meal was prepared, the chemical composition of the plate it was served on, and so on. He knows this about every single person on this planet as well, and this knowledge does not weary God.

God’s knowledge is without error. We can be so easily deceived by biased reports, shady sources and “fake news”. We can misunderstand the intent of what someone tells us, we can mishear what is said, and we can repeat incorrect information while believing that it is true. Not so with God. He never misunderstands, and discerns rightly, as He is truth.

We might not always know the right answer to a problem, or the correct course of action to take in a situation. But God does not need to wait to see what His creation will do before He moves next. He does not engage with creation as if it were a chess match, anticipating all the possible moves his creature might make so as to respond accordingly. He already knows what will happen.

How does it help us right now to know that God knows everything infinitely and infallibly? We know who to go to for help. We can bring our prayers and supplications before Him because nothing is beyond His knowledge. He knows what you need before you ask it (Matthew 6:8). He will never “tune out” from all that goes on in this world. We can rest in that.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you ever think that God doesn’t understand?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 44

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

5986123942_800e2423d0

Day 44

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…in his sight all things are open and manifest,…”

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 4:13.

Reflection

Why do we think we can hide from God?

We laugh at the baby who clasps her hands tight over her face so that we can’t see her. Silly thing! Of course we can see her. Yet she persists, thinking that she can be hidden from the world by shutting it out.

We read the account of Adam and Eve, who after eating the fruit, hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God. “How ridiculous!” we think. “God is everywhere. Didn’t they know that?”

And yet…

we think we can hide our thoughts, our misdeeds, our sins from God’s sight.

When I delivered my child via c-section, there were many in the operating room who saw parts of me that I prefer only my husband seeing. Through the paralyzing effects of the anesthesia, I was powerless to hide. The doctor made the incision, and my insides were exposed. If humans can see so much of us, how much more can God?

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. -Psalm 69:5 (ESV)

He sees your sin. Don’t try to hide it from Him. Flee to Him for forgiveness.

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. -Hebrew 4:16 (NASB)

Question to Consider

  • Is there anything you are trying to hide from God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 43

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

9665591550_77ee7c7c67

Day 43

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…and he hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth;…”

Scripture Lookup

Daniel 4:25, 34, 35.

Reflection

God demonstrates His power and rule over His creation time and time again.

He divided the sea and delivered the Israelites (Exodus 14).

He uses a donkey to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22).

He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

This same God is demonstrating His power and rule here and now.

He works ALL things – not all kinds of things, not a few things, but 100% – for the good of those that love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:38). How could He do so if He did not have sovereign dominion over His creation?

We may be struggling. Various events in the world, and possibly in our own lives, may confuse us. It may seem to us that God is not working among His creatures. Yet His word tells us otherwise, and His word is sure. Do not let the trials of this world loosen your grip from that truth!

Questions to Consider

  • Can you see God’s sovereign dominion over His creatures at this time?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 42

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

3548859587_11015b6396

Day 42

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them, he is the alone fountain of all Being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 11:34-36.

Reflection

This phrase of Chapter 2 is quite the lesson in prepositions, isn’t it?

(preposition: a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after dinner,” “what did you do it for?” -Oxford Dictionaries)

“…manifesting his own glory in them…” God’s glory is manifested in his creatures. All people are created in God’s image, and that image is glorious. The fact that you breathe is a result of the glory of God manifesting itself in you.

“…manifesting his own glory by them…” God’s glory is manifested by his creatures.  We, along with the rest of creation, demonstrate His handiwork. Your life displays the glory of God.

“…manifesting his own glory unto them…” God’s glory is manifested to his creatures. The sun rises and sets another day. We see the glory of God displayed all around us.

“…manifesting his own glory upon them…” God’s glory is manifested upon his creatures. All creation benefits from the wonders of his glory. As Christians, we are keenly aware of God’s glory upon us. When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, Christ died for us. God has showered his glory upon us by making us alive in Christ, changing our hearts from a a heart of stone to a heart of flesh, and conforming us to the image of his Son.

Questions to Consider

  • Where do you see God’s glory in your life today?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 41

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

29065225486_43ed7d19fb

Day 41

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…blessedness, in and of himself: is alone in, and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any Creature he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,…”

Scripture Lookup

Job 22:2,3.

Reflection

I admit, I like to feel needed. It makes me feel important. If my advice is sought after and followed, if I am missed at a gathering, if no one else can get the job done but me…I think you get the picture. The desire to “have it all” is a powerful one, and it is a desire that has been around since Eve first listened to the serpent: “You will be like God.”

But God doesn’t need me. And He doesn’t need you, either. And when you think about it, would you really want Him to be a God that needed us? Who would really have the power in that relationship?

God truly has it all. God does not need to prove anything to anyone, He is not lacking in any good thing, and He contains everything He needs within Himself. There is no haughtiness in that truth, no pretentiousness in that truth, no insecurity in that truth. When we see God for who He truly is, and how tiny and insignificant we are compared to His glory and majesty, we realize any quest for self-importance is foolish.

So no, I am not needed. I am not that important. But because I am in Christ, I am delighted in, I am loved, and I am able to have communion with the most awesome and wonderful being that has always existed. If you are in Christ, the same is true for you. Rest in His splendor, and stop struggling to promote yourself.

what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?  -Psalm 8:4 (ESV)

Questions to Consider

  • Are you struggling with feeling needed? Is your desire to feel important keeping you from resting in God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 40

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

8064428543_a2c3fce14e

Day 40

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…goodness,…”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 119:68.

Reflection

“God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.”

You may have heard that saying before. Although trite, it does have truth to it. God has all goodness in and of himself. And since He is infinite and eternal, He is good all the time. That goodness does not change. That can only be said about Him. Just as we cannot give God more or less glory than He already has, we cannot make God more or less good.

There is only One who is good… -Matthew 19:17

Every good thing on this earth is from God. “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.” -James 1:17 (NASB). When God created the world, He saw that it was good. But why was it good? Because God bestowed His goodness upon it. Not only that, he continues to bestow goodness upon creation. Not only is He faithful in providing, He is good in His provision. The rain falls, the plants grow, and we are sustained.

How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!    -Psalm 31:19 (NASB)

All goodness we have as Christians is also derived from God. Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, not of the Self! May we not forget that! So praise God for His goodness, and for His goodness  towards us!

God is the highest goodness, because He doth not act for his own profit, but for his creatures’ welfare, and the manifestation of his own goodness. -Stephen Charnock

Questions to Consider

  • How can you see God’s goodness in your life?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 39

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

7292963320_7605607ed6

Day 39

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“…glory,…”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 148:13.

Reflection

When we as Christians bring God glory, where does that glory come from? Have we somehow created it to give to God? How can you give more glory to God?

We cannot give God more glory than He already possesses. We cannot take away more glory than He already possesses. He has all glory in and of Himself.

I am the LORD, that is My name,

I will not give My glory to another…               -Isaiah 42:8

Why is it important to know that God has all glory in and of Himself? It reminds us that there is nothing special about us apart from Him. We repeat “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone Be the Glory), and we may earnestly desire to see Him glorified, but there is still the battle to bring some glory to self. We have worked hard. We used our talents. We have done what was needed to bring about the outcome. How often do we fall back on our supposed merits for any accomplishment, and merely give lip service to God and his glory?

If God chose to glorify Himself through taking away everything you possessed and everything you loved, would you be content with that? Would you still give God the glory? For despite the health and wealth teaching that plagues our day and age, God does not always give material blessings to his faithful. Look at Job. God’s glory is in and of Himself, and we are to give Him glory no matter our circumstances.

Lord, help us to die to self. May You have all the glory.

Questions to Consider

  • Have you been giving lip service to God’s glory?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 38

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

6865612522_008fb0a357

Day 38

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 2.

“God, having all life,…”

Scripture Lookup

John 5:26.

Reflection

What does it mean that God has all life in and of himself?

God exists. He has always existed, and therefore has always lived. There is nothing that can be done to change that. Men may dismiss God as an idea, a construct that can be dismantled, but the Bible declares otherwise. Remember the name of God given to Moses? The great “I AM” cannot be thwarted or blotted out! It is absurdity to think so, as the psalm correctly states “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” (Psalm 14:1)

God is the source of life, and is not dependent on anything for life. John  Calvin states: ”

God is said to have life in himself, not only because he alone lives by his own inherent power, but because, containing in himself the fullness of life, he communicates life to all things. And this, indeed, belongs peculiarly to God, as it is said, With thee is the fountain of life, (Psalms 36:9.)

This is the God who breathed life into Adam and formed Eve. This is the God who declares in Deuteronomy 32:39,  “It is I who put to death and give life.” This is the God in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). This is the God who gives eternal life to repentant sinners: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (John 1:4) God can give life abundantly because He has all life in and of himself, an inexhaustible supply.

“I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.” -John 10:10

Let us run to Him, stopping our ears to the call of the world like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress and run toward Him who has all life: “Life! Life! Eternal life!”

Questions to Consider

  • Do you ever act like life depends upon you, rather than God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 37

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

3549464622_9e432728f3

Day 37

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 1.

“…and who will by no means clear the guilty.”

Scripture Lookup

Exodus 34:7.

Nahum 1:2,3.

Reflection

Have you ever gotten away with something? Perhaps growing up, you did something you knew you weren’t supposed to, but you never got caught. Perhaps you pressed against the boundaries of a rule just hard enough that although you should have gotten in trouble, your parents just let it go. Perhaps you were good at covering your tracks, or deflecting suspicion, or talking your way out of a situation. Each time you thought you got away with it.

But the reality is no, you have never gotten away with anything. There is an all-knowing, all-powerful  God who has been present every time you sinned. He knows you better than you know yourself, and has seen every thought, every action, every transgression against His law that you have done, may even be doing now, and will do. Nothing can be hid from God, and sin is no exception.

Sin is ultimately an act of rebellion against God. Since God rules over the universe that He created, and He cannot stand the presence of sin, it is fitting that sinners will be punished. In fact, since God is holy, sinners must be punished.

It is hard to comprehend eternal torment, and it is so much easier to ignore that unpleasant reality. But sticking our heads in the sand will not keep us nor the ones we love from experiencing punishment. Only by turning to God for the remedy provided through Christ will we escape the effects of His wrath.

As the detestation of sin results from the universal rectitude of his nature, so the punishment of sin follows upon that, as he is the righteous Governor of the world: it is as much against his nature not to punish it, as it is against his nature not to loathe it; he would cease to be holy if he ceased to hate it, and he would cease to hate it if he ceased to punish it. – Stephen Charnock

Question to Consider

  • How does the knowledge that God will punish the guilty affect your relationship with Jesus?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 36

/ Reformed Baptista / Leave a comment

5992192913_2ddcc2dbce

Day 36

Of God and of the Holy Trinity

Chapter 2, Paragraph 1.

“…hating all sin,…”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 5:5,6.

Reflection

One summer, several years ago, the church my family attended held a Vacation Bible School. Along with other songs about God, the children sang a rendition of Proverbs 6:16-19:

There are six things – even seven, that the Lord hates – things He cannot stand!
Proud looking eyes
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that thinks of wicked things to do
And feet that run to evil, too
Anyone who loves to lie about others
And the one who causes trouble with his brothers  -Judy Rogers, “Seven Awful Things”

Our neighbor, a nominal Roman Catholic, often let her children come and be part of each year’s VBS. When she picked up her kids after this presentation, she pulled me aside. “I have to tell you, I really don’t like that song. God doesn’t hate anybody!”

“God doesn’t hate anybody.” In today’s society, to suggest that God hates anything, much less anyone, is considered dangerous. Tolerance and open-mindedness towards nearly any type of thought and action is promoted, and conventional wisdom states God is loving and only condemns those really bad people like Hitler. However, His Word says otherwise. Psalm 5 states, “You hate all who do iniquity.” What are we to make of this?

What does it mean for God to hate sin? It means that God abhors it, since it is absolutely contrary to His nature and His will. God is holy. As such, He cannot be in the presence of sin. He hates it. That hatred is just, because God is most just. God is infinite. His hatred towards sin is infinite. It never stops or relents. God is impartial toward sin: each and every transgression is despised.

If he did not hate [sin], he would hate himself: for since righteousness is his image, and sin would deface his image; if he did not love his image, and loathe what is against his image, he would loathe himself, he would be an enemy to his own nature. – Stephen Charnock

As Christians, we know that God is “abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin”, as the Confession states. We should delight in that! Yet let’s not downplay how horrid and detestable sin is, and urgently press the need for sinners to be reconciled to Him.

Question to Consider

  • Do you ever find yourself downplaying God’s hatred toward sin?