Lord's Day 3
Devotion
These devotions are written by a man. It’s best that you know that now, because knowing that will help you understand some of my deficiencies. I am a guy; as such I do not multitask, I get distracted very easily, and most importantly, I have a hard time following directions. I remember once trying to assemble an entertainment unit with my father-in-law. We did the whole thing without ever looking at the plans; then we had to take it apart and put it back together again so the doors would fit. It would have been easier to follow the plan, but I am a guy, enough said.
Last week, our installment of the Catechism focused on what we may say of the nature of God. Now we turn to what could be called “God’s Eternal Plan.” The decrees of God are God’s determination or will that a certain thing to be done. It is, then, comforting to know that God has had from the beginning of time a wise and intelligent plan for creation, and that every event that has or will transpire, because of His provident grace, will somehow fall within His plan.
Some may reject the notion of God foreordaining whatever comes to pass on the basis that it negates our free will or determination. However, the fundamental doctrine of the decree of God is God’s sovereignty over all things. If God is before all, over all, in all and through all things, and if by him all things exist, then His absolute direction and control over all things must also be affirmed. This is all that is meant by foreordination, God has created all things, has given all things purpose, and will see that all things work together toward His plan.
And so what is God’s eternal plan for creation? Look back to Question 1; the supreme end of the eternal plan or decree of God is the manifestation of God’s glory. God is glorified in the works of creation, and in His providential care of His creation. Ultimately, however, the good of creation is always secondary to the glory of God, which is the chief end of all things.
Prayer
Almighty and Gracious God, we have great hope in your providential and sovereign plan for your creation. Help us to trust in you more each day, that we may walk according to your will and bring you glory in all that we do. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Question 7
Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Scripture Proofs
Eph. 1:4;
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
Eph. 1:11;
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Rom. 9:22-23.
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
Question 8
Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Scripture Proofs
Ps. 148:8;
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!
Isa. 40:26;
Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these?
He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
Dan. 4:35;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
Acts 4:24-28;
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
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.”