Lord's Day 1

Week 52 :: Week 1 :: Week 2

Devotion

What is the meaning of life? Some would say that it is beyond our ability to find the answer to this question; and yet it remains a question that every generation asks. What’s it all about? Why are we here? This question lies in every heart, because the answer gives us meaning and purpose for life.

The message of God’s word is that we do have purpose, there is meaning in this life. Ultimately, as the catechism teaches, our purpose, our “chief end” is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We were created for God’s glory; that is, all of creation glorifies its creator by nature and by calling. By nature, creation glorifies God much as an artist’s work brings the artist praise and glory. However, as beings created in the image of God, men and women have a special calling to bring glory to God. 

Moreover, we were created to enjoy God. For some, this may seem like a strange idea. God is often viewed as the ultimate killjoy, giving rules and regulations to keep people from having any fun. But God has created us for joy, to enjoy His presence and the good gifts of His creation. How, then, do we do this, glorify God and find joy in His presence? The answer is found in God’s word, His revelation to us of His will. The word of God is our only reliable and infallible guide as we seek to glorify and enjoy God. If we want to live up to this grand and glorious calling, we must turn to His word for us.

Prayer

Gracious God, 

Thank you for creating us and giving us purpose in life. Help us to live our lives in a way that will bring you glory, and may we continue to find great joy in your presence. Teach us, by your word, how we are to live and believe; that we may walk according to your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Question 1

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Scripture Proofs

Ps. 86:8-13;

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 

For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 

For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

Is. 60:21;

Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.

Rom. 11:36;

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 

1 Cor. 6:20;

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Cor. 10:31;

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Rev. 4:11;

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Ps. 16:5-11;

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 144:15;

Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!

Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Is. 12:2;

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Luke 2:10;

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Phil. 4:4;

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Rev. 21:3-4.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Question 2

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Scripture Proofs

Matt. 19:4-5;

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?

Gen. 2:24;

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Luke 24:27;

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:44;

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

1 Cor. 2:13;

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1 Cor. 14:37;

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

2 Peter 1:20-21;

 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 3:2;

that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,

2 Peter 3:15-16;

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

Deut. 4:2;

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Ps. 19:7-11;

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

John 15:11;

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 20:30-31;

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Acts 17:11;

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

2 Tim. 3:15-17;

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 John 1:4.

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Question 3

Q. 3. What do the scriptures principally teach?

A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Scripture Proofs

Gen. 1:1;

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

John 20:31;

but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Rom. 10:17;

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

2 Tim. 3:15;

and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Deut. 10:12-13;

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Josh. 1:8;

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Ps. 119:105;

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Micah 6:8;

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

2 Tim. 3:16-17.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.