Missions of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America

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Laying Aside What Distracts

Yesterday we considered our calling to run the race set before us. And as we saw, that is the same race as the one which those listed in Hebrews 11 ran. To win the prize which they won, we must reach a certain goal, laying aside anything that would stop us from running.

But what is also very important is that we go straight to the finish line, and are not tempted to turn off that path on which we must run. That path is the way of righteousness, and it is run by faith. Therefore the author of this epistle wrote in Hebrews 12:1 , "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."

We have that sinful nature of our flesh that wants a different kind of prize. It wants what the lust of our flesh wants, what the lust of our eyes seeks, and what the pride of our life has in mind. Sin is a heavy weight that makes us want to stop, sit down, and not run further.

Surely we have so much against which to contend. It is not men who are trying to beat us in the race. It is things, pleasures, carnal enjoyments off the path that we want to enjoy. There are things Satan through men presents to us, tempting us to stop. And the temptations today are so much more subtle than in the day when this epistle was written. We can today go so much farther off the path. The allurements are many more in number and much more enticing.

But we must take heed to what is written here. We must go forward in faith. Our faith must cause us to look to the blessedness Christ earned for us by His cross, and to call sinful all the things presented to entice us and bring us off the path that leads to the prize.

Do not call sins wise and good. Call them folly and wicked. Heed these words in the text, and run away from sin as fast as you can.

Read: James 1:12-27

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

2 Chronicles 32 ; 2 Chronicles 33:1-13 
Romans 15:23-33 ; Romans 16:1-9 
Psalm 25:16-22 
Proverbs 20:16-18 
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Quote for Reflection:

Placing ourselves, our persons, our inmost heart and mind before the face of the living God, we may address an idol, a god of our own imagination, that is neither God nor Lord nor righteous, that is wholly like unto ourselves; to whom we speak but who does not speak to us; whose voice cannot possibly be heard in our inmost heart. And thus praying with ourselves and to ourselves, it is wholly conceivable that we approach this idol of our imagination with our abominable tithes, fasts, works, reforms, charities, philanthropies, devils cast out and wonders performed, and say: I thank thee, God, that I am so good, while all others are evil! . . . 
   And the reason is, that we did not pray to God, but with ourselves! 
   We were never in the presence of God! 
    His holiness did not flash into our inmost soul; His sovereign majesty never overawed our deceitful heart; His voice never thundered into our conscience: Thou shalt love Me!
   But what if we pray to God who is God? . . . . 

 – Herman Hoeksema  [Standard Bearer, Vol. 8, pg. 218]

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Running That Important Race

We often think of patience as an act of waiting, and we speak of being patient when there is something that we want but that is not yet come. However, patience is endurance. We should bear that in mind when in Hebrews 12:1 we read, "Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us with patience run in the race that is set before us."

Surely we cannot "wait" and "run a race" at the same time. We can however "run a race" with "endurance." Because we have the strength to run, we press on, even though there are things that hurt our flesh and that make running difficult. If we really want that prize, we certainly will run, even though it hurts, and some watching us ridicule us and advise us to stop.

Now, the idea here is not that we are running against others, trying to keep them from that prize. The author of this epistle speaks of a cloud of witnesses who ran in times past and reached the prize. Running with jealousy is running in a different race, for fleshly prizes.

The race set before us is one wherein one runs alone, and receives the prize because he reached the goal, not because he outran others. He must go forward and stay on the path that leads to where God gives the prize.

The saints mentioned in this verse, and called witnesses, are those of whom we read in chapter eleven. They also ran alone. In fact, they all ran in different periods of time. They received the prizes, and that encourages us to run with confidence. With the endurance, the ability, to continue in spite of the difficulties and complaining of the flesh, we must run, being thankful that our God through His Son and His cross realized the prize for us.

That prize is the crown of righteousness of which Paul told Timothy.

Read: II Timothy 4:1-8

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
|
2 Chronicles 30; 2 Chronicles 31:1-21 
Romans 15:1-22 
Psalm 25:1-15 
Proverbs 20:13-15 
****
Quote for Reflection:
 Be not wiser than God; - train your children as He trains His. J. C. Ryle

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Our God's Unsearchable Greatness

In Psalm 145:3 we find an expression of praise to God that ought to move us to extol Him more than we do. David says there, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable." That explains why David had in the preceding verse said that every day he would bless God and praise His name for ever and ever.

What we read in the original Psalm, as written by David, is this: "Great is the Lord and mighty to be praised." David uses two different words, while our King James Version uses the word "great" twice. Now "great" can refer to size, while mighty refers to power, strength. God is great, in that He is everywhere present, and even goes beyond creation. He is mighty and called the almighty God. All power and strength are His. There is nothing that He cannot do. He can do all that He pleases to do. No one can stop Him or even slow Him down.

All creatures depend upon God. They cannot go away from Him, nor can they stop Him from what He sets out to perform. We cannot go where He is not, and we cannot exist one more moment unless it is His will to give us life. We must turn away from all atheism which says that He does not exist. We must reject evolution which does not even explain where that "gaseous vapor" came from, out of which the world "evolved." No, our God is everywhere and almighty, and all that happens must be considered as according to His eternal, unchangeable counsel or plan.

Appreciate then His greatness and might. They assure us that He can and will save us from our sins; and that the devil who got us into sin and guilt is completely under His control. God loves us, and that love is great and mighty.

Extol Him then. Praise him as the God of your salvation. Thank Him for the salvation He realized through His Son.

Read: Psalm 145 .

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 29:1-36 
Romans 14:1-23 
Psalm 24:1-10 
Proverbs 20:12 
****
Quote for Reflection:

   ¼ so God gave them over to an unfit mind, to do things that are unfit. Why? Because it must become manifest that he who does not think God fit to keep in mind must run to destruction.
    What shall we do? Nothing. Not if we want to reform the world. 
What shall we do? We shall conclude that it is hopeless. It is the wrath of God that is at the bottom of it all. It is the wrath of God that is at the bottom even of war, of the present confusion of the world, and of the depression. 
   What shall we do? Shall we call a prayer day? This is folly. Away with all that is of man! From the point of view of man, it is hopeless. Why? Because it is the wrath of God that takes hold of man and pulls him down into hell. Let us confess that it is hopeless. 
   What shall we do? We shall say: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation." For what do we need? We need righteousness; we need holiness; we need a power to snatch us away from the wrath of God. The gospel is a revelation of the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Christ Jesus. 
   This gospel is a power. It is not an offer. But it is a power. It is a power taking man out of the power of sin and lifting him up into the glory of everlasting life. 
   Hopeless, from the point of view of man, and of the world! 
    Full of hope in the cross of Calvary! 
    The righteous shall live by faith.                                  – Righteous by Faith Alone by Herman Hoeksema [pg. 45]

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Enduring Mercy

There are songs that have several stanzas, and also have a chorus which is sung after each stanza. If you look at Psalm 136 you will find twenty-six verses, each one ending with the words "For his mercy endureth forever." The psalmist begins this Psalm with these words, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Each verse in this psalm gives us not only the reason for giving God thanks, but also the reason why we can be sure that His mercy endureth forever. Listed are works of God, performed before and being now performed, that reveal that His mercy endureth forever.

All these reasons which are listed are parts of the truth that He saves us. They all show us that His mercy faileth never. There are physical needs which He supplies, and which are necessary for us to serve God spiritually. We need food to strengthen our physical life, if we are going to serve Him. Without food, one loses his strength to teach his children. Unconsciousness stops our prayers and praise to God. In this vale of tears and sorrows we depend upon God and His mercy for all we are called to do.

Our calling most assuredly is to thank God, which means that we confess that He is good. The new Jerusalem will come pretty soon so that we can and will endlessly thank Him and declare His goodness. If we do not find that in our lives, we have no evidence that we are His children and that we will be brought into that new Jerusalem. A heart that does not beat reveals there is no life. A spiritual heart that does not thank God and call Him good declares that we have not been born again, and that His mercy has not dealt with us yet.

His mercy endureth forever; and, if we are His elect children, that mercy will rest upon us and we will be a thankful people.

Read: Psalm 136

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 26 ; 2 Chronicles 27 ; 2 Chronicles 28:1-27 
Romans 13:1-14 
Psalm 23:1-6 
Proverbs 20:11 
****
Quote for Reflection:


 “The rest – peace of heart and mind – which Jesus here provides is the very opposite of the aggravated mental stress that sends so many people to doctors, hospitals, and death.  Absence of peace, whether in the form of anxiety or of rancor and vindictiveness (the lust to ‘get even’), may lead to ulcers, colitic, high blood pressure, heart attacks, etc.  The teachings of Christ, if taken to heart, have a curative effect on the entire person, soul and body.  He is a complete savior.” ~ William Hendriksen

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Hoping in God's Word

To hope is more than to desire. So often we say, "I hope so," and merely mean that we would like to have this or that happen. But the word "hope" means "expect." It means that we are absolutely sure that this or that will happen.

Do we not in Hebrews 6:19 read that we have hope as the anchor of our soul, both sure and steadfast? Surely an anchor is not a wish, but an object that holds the ship in a particular place. A wish is not sure and steadfast, and can quickly be dropped. Hope is sure and steadfast.

Bear that in mind, then, when in Psalm 130:5 we read, "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."

The psalmist was not different from us. We are deeply embedded with guilt, and we deserve everlasting punishment. But by God's grace we have been given hope of escape from that punishment. We are given the certainty that it is ours by God's grace. And we expect to enter heavenly glory instead of the hellish punishment for which our sins call.

We wait with confidence because of that hope, but also because of certain knowledge. Who would wait on a street corner for a bus, if he were not sure that buses come down that street and will stop there? To have hope we must and do have God's word that our salvation is coming fully when Christ returns.

Wait then for Christ to come back, convinced that because He died for our sins, He will come back with that full salvation. Believe that He did earn it for you. That faith will give you hope. Expect it because the almighty, unchangeable God promises it to you.

The psalmist says it; but we also have reason to say it. Believing, as the psalmist presents it in verse 4, that there is forgiveness with God, we have reason for hope. When God speaks we have the truth. His sure Word builds up hope in His children's hearts.

Read: Psalm 130

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 24 ; 2 Chronicles 25:1-28 
Romans 12:1-21 
Psalm 22:19-31 
Proverbs 20:8-10 
****
Quote for Reflection:


"We hear about identity theft and corporate fraud. Yet, two violations of the eighth commandment are continually overlooked in society. They are gambling and the institution of labor unions. Both of these are allowed and promoted by the government of America. They are ‘legalized theft!’"  The Reformed Perspective [Summer 2004]

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The Building of God's House

A basic truth we must hold on to and defend in this age, where it is universally denied, is expressed in Psalm 127:1 . There we read, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."

The truth here is that our salvation, one hundred percent, is God's work. It is true that He calls us believers, and we do repent. But He does not command us to do anything in our own strength. We do not help Him. He saves us. We can labor in our salvation, because He implanted it in us, and because He gives us the strength and will to do so.

A man can build a house. He can be a soldier or guard and stand before the gate of the city to keep out the enemies. But that house builder and the guard must receive every breath of life and heartbeat from God. Similarly, we cannot believe, and cannot even desire salvation, unless God gives it to us. God is not dependent upon us for our salvation, anymore than He is dependent upon us for our physical life. We have absolutely no faith in Him until He gives it to us. We must fight Satan and sin; but we can do so only when God gives us the strength and desire. He owes us nothing. We owe Him thanks for everything that we have spiritually as well as physically.

God's house, His church, is built by God. He builds it through man. But man is God's tool. Man never helps God. God helps him spiritually and physically. The church is safe because its safety depends upon God, and He promises to save it and glorify it.

Praise God then for all the blessings of salvation that you have. See Him behind all the things in your natural life, but also behind all of your salvation. The ability to serve Him, and the desire to do so, are His gifts unto us. They call for everlasting thanks to Him. We, by His grace, will enter His house of many mansions. But He builds it and brings us into it.

Read: Psalm 127

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 21 ; 2 Chronicles 22 ; 2 Chronicles 23:1-21 
Romans 11:13-36 
Psalm 22:1-18 
Proverbs 20:7 
****
Quote for Reflection:


“Let our miseries drive us to seek Christ; and as he admits none to the enjoyment of his rest but those who sink under the burden, let us learn, that there is no venom more deadly than that slothfulness which is produced in us, either by earthly happiness, or by a false and deceitful opinion of our own righteousness and virtue.” ~ John Calvin

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Reaping in Joy

One of the saddest periods in the life of the Israelites was when they were taken out of the promised land, and were caused to live in the Babylonian captivity where Abraham had lived before God called him and brought him to Canaan.

It is then not difficult to understand the joy of the believing Israelites when they were allowed to come back to Canaan. We read in Psalm 126:1 that it was like a dream to do so. They laughed and sang and told the heathen that the Lord had done great things for them.

What is especially beautiful is that they also said in verse 5, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." This is explained in the next verse, where we read, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

That is our life here below. We have aches, sorrows, and pains; and these are going to increase as we approach the days of the Antichrist. The sovereign, almighty God gave us seed, namely, the beginning of a new spiritual life. And we are going to enjoy the harvest of that seed when Christ returns. We sow that seed, seeking spiritual growth. He gives the rain and sunshine and the fruit by His grace. And then we will be filled with heavenly joy.

Bear then in mind that a farmer prospers because God sends the rain and sunshine. Man has no control over these at all. If God does not give these, there is no harvest.

Remember also that God sent those evil descendants of Abraham to kill His Son, so that our sins might be blotted out, and our guilt removed. Although we may seek strength of faith in times of dreadful persecution, we may be absolutely sure that we will reap, that is, obtain the full salvation with joy when Christ returns.

God's church will have pain but will also reach heavenly blessedness.

Read: Psalm 126

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 19 ; 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 
Romans 10:14-21 ; Romans 11:1-12 
Psalm 21:1-13 
Proverbs 20:4-6 
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Quote for Reflection:


"But if the principal teachers conduct themselves more coldly than they ought, it is principally the fault of the princes who, involved in their secular concerns, neglect the prosperity and purity of the church; or each one, contented with his own security, is indifferent to the welfare of others. Thus it comes to pass, that the members being divided, the body of the church lies disabled." John Calvin to Charles Cranmer

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The Certainty of Our Full Salvation

Yesterday we noted that the psalmist lifted his eyes unto God as his helper. The psalmist in Psalm 124:8 declares the same truth. There we read, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

It is true that God will help us in all our afflictions and difficulties. Yes, when we are on our death beds, God will help us by bringing our souls into heaven. That is not forsaking us but being our help. For then we will get what Christ earned for us, and what God promised us in Christ. That is why the psalmist says that our help is in God's name. God's name that the psalmist uses in the Hebrew original form of this psalm means "I AM."

This name of God reveals that He never changes, which in turn means that His name will never change. He will everlastingly be the I AM; and that in turn means that He will keep every word and letter of every promise that He gives us in Christ. Because He is the I AM, we may be absolutely sure that He depends upon no one or any thing. It means that there is no god besides Him. Therefore we are sure of getting help from Him. The name "I AM" means "I Am God!"

Do not overlook the fact that He made the heavens and the earth. That not only reveals what power He has. It reveals His wisdom, His ability to do with His power what will keep His promises to us. Heaven and earth represent here the whole of creation and every creature in the universe. Over all creatures He has absolute control.

Put your trust in Him. No matter what happens to you and round about you, do not for one moment doubt that God is working all things together for your good. He sent His Son, removed our guilt through Him, raised Him from the dead, and placed Him at His right hand to work all things so that all God's promises to us can and will be fulfilled in every detail.

He will bring forth the new creation and our full salvation.

Read: Psalm 124

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 17 ; 2 Chronicles 18:1-34 
Romans 9:25-33 ; Romans 10:1-13 
Psalm 20:1-9 
Proverbs 20:2-3 
****
Quote for Reflection:


"Grant, Almighty God, since our own station in life has been assigned to us, that we may be content with our lot, and when thou doest humble us, may we willingly be subject to Thee, and suffer ourselves to be ruled by Thee, and not desire any exaltation, which may lead us down to destruction. Grant us also, to conduct ourselves so modestly in our various callings, that Thou mayest always shine forth in us. May nothing else be set before us than to assist our brethren to whom we are attached, as in Thy sight; and thus glorify Thy Name among all men, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." -- Prayer of John Calvin

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Help from the Heavenly Hills

In Psalm 121:1 we read, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

In our country there are places where there are no hills. You might think that people living there cannot say what the psalmist said. But bear in mind that the psalmist is speaking of special hills where God's temple stood, and where God symbolically dwelt. He means that he lifts up his eyes unto God. Solomon's temple was built on a hill, and men looked on that as God's house, or dwelling place. For, typically, He dwelt in the Holy of Holies where was the ark with the mercy seat.

Now, since Christ came, died for us, rose, and ascended to God's right hand in heavenly glory, that is where we look, and in faith and hope look up to for blessings. From Christ up there at God's right hand comes all our salvation and its blessings. To Christ we must then lift up our eyes today. We must today say that from thence cometh our help.

God helped us by sending His Son into our flesh so that our salvation might be purchased. He helped us by having Him nailed to the cross, on which Christ suffered hell's torment that we deserve. He helped us by raising Christ from the dead and lifting Him up to His right hand in heavenly glory.

Look then to Christ when afflictions and trouble come your way. But look up also to Him when you become aware of the sins which you in the weakness of your flesh have again committed. Look away from the Antichrist, who will please the world by what Satan through him does with the things of this earth.

Say, and then do as you say, that you will from moment to moment look for what Christ earned for us. Do not say that you will do that pretty soon when you more surely approach the end of life. Do it now, and do it with your heart and walk of life.

Read: Psalm 121

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 14 ; 2 Chronicles 15 ; 2 Chronicles 16:1-14 
Romans 9:1-24 
Psalm 19:1-14 
Proverbs 20:1 
****
Quote for Reflection:


"Wherefore, although we look far and wide and search on every hand, we shall not find better songs nor songs better suited to that end than the Psalms of David which the Holy Spirit made and uttered through him. And for this reason, when we sing them we may be certain that God puts the words, in our mouths as if Himself sang in us to exalt His glory."  John Calvin

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The Beginning of Wisdom

The truth is that not to be wise is to be a fool. One is either wise or foolish as far as spiritual matters are concerned. And David in Psalm 14:1 presents the truth that the fool says in his heart that there is no God. We do well to take a firm grip on that statement of David that the fool says this in his heart.

Many unbelievers will with their lips agree that there is a God. Sometimes they foolishly say that they need God's help. But in their hearts they do not mean that. They are thinking of another god. God's Word remains a closed book, for they do not want to know Him as He truly is.

Let us instead take hold firmly of the truth which God Himself gives us through the psalmist in Psalm 111:10, where we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever."

What an astounding truth! The word "fear" here does not mean fright. It means to believe that He is God. You can find the word "faith" only two times in the Old Testament. More often you find this word "fear." Believing that He is God means that we fear Him in the sense of having awe and reverence before Him. We have awesome respect for Him. That is the beginning of wisdom, not terror and fright, which would mean that we do not believe that His Son blotted out our guilt by His cross.

Are you a believer? Has God given you that fear or reverence and awe before Him? Look at your walk of life and into your heart. Is there love there for Him that causes you to do His commandments? That reveals that you have the fear of reverence and awe before Him. Fear makes us say that we love His law, and want to keep it because of that love, not due to fright. It means that you praise Him because He is God and you rejoice in that truth.

Read: Psalm 111

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 11 ; 2 Chronicles 12 ; 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 
Romans 8:26-39 
Psalm 18:37-50 
Proverbs 19:27-29 
****
Quote for Reflection:


"If we wish to be considered members of Christ, let no man be anything for himself, but let us all be whatever we are for the benefit of each other. This is accomplished by love; and where it does not reign, there is no 'edification,' but an absolute scattering of the church."   John Calvin

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