Daily Devotions for Difficult Days [112] Doctrine is for Life

The Purpose of Christian Doctrine

When I turned nineteen years old I began studying Physics at Liverpool Polytechnic, having spent the last year as a very happy labourer at Yale Locks in Willenhall.

Over the next four years I was encouraged by fellow Christians to get into Christian doctrine. I bought the books and read Lois Berkhof, Bejamnin Warfield and John Owen.

But no-one told me what doctrine was for and so I soon became a walking-talking doctrine book. You could ask me all sorts of questions about high doctrine and I could give you pretty good answers - I think!

But no-one told me what doctrine was for.

It wasn't for at least another decade I discovered the real purpose of doctrine, and our wonderful verses for the next few days will explain what I learnt way back then.

Doctrine is for Life

Philippians 2:6-11 could well be the very first Christain hymn ever composed and sung. We don't know, but some think it was. This glroious hymn runs like so...

Christ Jesus:

⁶ who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death –
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

There are fewer portions of Scripture more exalted and it will take us a few days to explore them together. Some of the very highest doctrine about Jesus Christ is to be found here.

But today, we need to point out why these truths are here. Paul did not write this high doctrine to excite the Christian mind, he gave this high doctrine to teach humility. Look at the verses that precede:

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:"

Paul introduces high doctrine to shape Christian behaviour.

Everywhere in the Bible, the same is true. Christian doctrine is for Life. It's there to shape our behaviour, to comfort, to challenge, to encourage, to influence.

Not once in the Bible is doctrine given for doctrine's sake. And that is the first lesson we learn from The first Christian Hymn.

Any time I extract doctrine from Scripture in an arid, non-practial, abstract sort of way, I fail to respect the Holy Spirt's purpose in giving it. Every time we employ it to change lives, we use it for the purpose for which it is written.

A simple lesson, but it will help us to truly and immensely profit from doctrine (and save lots of arguments and wasted time!)

A SONG FOR THE DAY

Born in 1926, Timothy Dudley-Smith penned this hymn, whose second verse echoes the teaching of today's devotional: God's Word is meant to fire us, speak to our hearts and set our souls ablaze.

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:
Lord of the word, receive Your people's praise.

Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him:
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us -
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

You can sing it HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our loving Father in heaven,

We thank you for this new day. Teach us to be thankful people, overflowing with praise and always encouraging towards our brothers and sisters, your dear people.

We thank you for your Holy Word. We pray that it may daily be a lamp to our feet and light for our path. Keep us from a dry and dusty knowledge of you, and teach us that doctrine is the highway to living a holy and joyful life.

We ask these things in our Saviour's Name,

Amen

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash