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January 7 Daily Devotional

Thine Is My Heart: Devotional Readings from the Writings of John Calvin

John Calvin (compiled by John H. Kromminga)

Bible Text:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. —I Peter 5:6, 7

Devotional:

It is consoling to recognize that not only he tries our faith, but also that, in withdrawing us from the allurements and delights of the world, which deceive us, he lets us taste his bounty and feel his aid, by gathering us as it were under his wings, that we may say with David that our supreme good is to cleave to him.

Indeed, when all goes well with us, it is hard to prevent our minds in their wantonness from going astray; and it is a miracle, which seldom happens, that those who have long basked in prosperity hold on in the fear of the Lord. And that is the reason why, to keep his children in restraint, he sends them divers afflictions.

Doubtless though we feel that what are called adversities are common to us with unbelievers and profane people entirely given up to the world, nevertheless God blesses those which we have to suffer, turning them to such account that we have always matter for consolation and rejoicing in our sorrows. You cannot but recognize, also, that he has been pleased to spare you, for you see how much more harshly he deals with many others, who have not for all that any mitigation in their afflictions. —Correspondence


John Calvin was the premier theologian of the Reformation, but also a pious and godly Christian pastor who endeavored throughout his life to point men and women to Christ. We are grateful to Reformation Heritage Books for permission to use John Calvin's Thine Is My Heart as our daily devotional for 2013 on the OPC Web site. You can currently obtain a printed copy of that book from Reformation Heritage Books.

Dr. Joel Beeke, who is editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books, has this to say:

"Calvin shows us the piety of a Reformed theologian who speaks from the heart. Having tasted the goodness and grace of God in Jesus Christ, he pursued piety by seeking to know and do God’s will every day. He communed with Christ, practicing repentance, self-denial, and cross-bearing. Moreover, his theology worked itself out in heart-felt, Christ-honoring piety. The selections of this devotional bear this out, and hopefully will be used by God to direct pious hearts in our own day."

These devotional readings from John Calvin were compiled by John H. Kromminga. Be sure to read his "Introduction" to John Calvin's Thine Is My Heart.

 

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