The written Word of God

The Belgic Confession of Faith

Article 3: The written Word of God

We confess that this Word of God was not sent nor delivered by the will of man, but that holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle Peter says (2 Pet. 1:21); and that afterwards God, from a special care which He has for us and our salvation, commanded His servants, the prophets and apostles, to commit His revealed word to
writing; and He Himself wrote with His own finger the two tables of the law. Therefore we call such writings holy and divine Scriptures.

Emmanuel, ... God with us

Daily Light Devotions - June 1 - Evening

Emmanuel, ... God with us.

"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 1

"But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 2

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 3

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 4

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 5

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7
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1 Matt 1:23;
2 2 Chron 6:18;
3 John 1:14;
4 1 Tim 3:16;
5 Heb 1:2;
6 John 20:19,20,26-28;
7 Isa 9:6

The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering

Daily Light Devotions - June 1 - Morning

The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 1

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 2

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 3

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 4

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 6

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 7
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1 Gal 5:22;
2 Exo 34:6;
3 Eph 4:1,2,32;
4 James 3:17;
5 1 Cor 13:4;
6 Gal 6:9;
7 James 5:7,8

By what means God is made known unto us

The Belgic Confession of Faith

Article 2: By what means God is made known unto us

We know Him by two means: First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to see clearly His invisible attributes, even His eternal power and Godhead, as the Apostle Paul says (Rom. 1:20). All which things are sufficient to convince men and leave them without excuse. Second, He makes Himself more clearly and fully known to us by His holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to His glory and our salvation.

Little children, abide in him

Daily Light Devotions - May 31 - Evening

Little children, abide in him.

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 2

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 3

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 5

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 6
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1 1 John 2:28;
2 James 1:6-8;
3 Gal 1:6-8;
4 Gal 5:4,7;
5 John 15:4,7;
6 2 Cor 1:20

Thy name shall be called Israel

Daily Light Devotions - May 31 - Morning

Thy name shall be called Israel.

Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." 1

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us-- 2

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 3

And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 4

And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." 5

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 6

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 7
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1 Gen 32:28;
2 Hos 12:3,4;
3 Rom 4:20;
4 Mark 11:22-24;
5 Mark 9:23;
6 Luke 1:45;
7 Luke 17:5

There is only one God

The Belgic Confession of Faith

Article 1: There is Only One God

We all believe with the heart and confess with the mouth that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that He is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.

Thou hearest me always

Daily Light Devotions - May 30 - Evening

Thou hearest me always.

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." 1

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 2

Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." 3

Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 4

saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." 5

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 6

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 7

and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 8

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 9

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 10

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 11
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1 John 11:42;
2 John 11:41;
3 John 12:28;
4 Heb 10:7;
5 Luke 22:42;
6 1 John 4:17;
7 1 John 5:14;
8 1 John 3:22;
9 Heb 11:6;
10 Heb 7:25;
11 1 John 2:1

Let us labour to enter into that rest

Daily Light Devotions - May 30 - Morning

Let us labour to enter into that rest.

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 1

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 2

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 3

Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." 4

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 5

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 6

for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 7

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 8
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1 Heb 4:11;
2 Matt 7:13,14;
3 Matt 11:12;
4 John 6:27;
5 2 Pet 1:10,11;
6 1 Cor 9:24,25;
7 Heb 4:10;
8 Isa 60:19

What is the meaning of the word “Amen?”

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 129. What is the meaning of the word “Amen?”

Answer. “Amen” means: so shall it truly and surely be. For my prayer is much more certainly heard of God than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of Him.[1]

[1] Ps 145:18-19; Isa 65:24; 2 Cor 1:20; 2 Tim 2:13

Oh that I had wings like a dove!

Daily Light Devotions - May 29 - Evening

Oh that I had wings like a dove!

And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 1

When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." 2

And Job said: "Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, 3

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. 4

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 5

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 6
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1 Psa 55:6;
2 Jon 4:8;
3 Job 3:2,20,21;
4 Psa 34:19;
5 John 12:27;
6 Heb 2:17,18

The life of the flesh is in the blood

Daily Light Devotions - May 29 - Morning

The life of the flesh is in the blood ...

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. 1

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 2

I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 3

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 4

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 5

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 6

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 7

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 8

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 9
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1 Lev 17:11;
2 John 1:29;
3 Rev 7:14;
4 1 Pet 1:19;
5 Heb 9:22;
6 1 John 1:7;
7 Heb 9:12;
8 Heb 10:19,20,22;
9 1 Cor 6:20