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January 16 Daily Devotional

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

John Calvin (compiled by John H. Kromminga)

Bible Text:

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. —Isaiah 53:7, 8

Devotional:

Since the age of our Lord Jesus Christ never comes to an end, and no change will ever prevent him from being careful to guard his Church, even were the temptations much greater and more violent than they are, we may be full of assurance.

And that needs to be applied, not only to the whole community of the faithful, but also to each individual. Let us then know and be well persuaded that, even though our life be but a breath and we are ready each moment to vanish away, yet we have an unending life, because we are members of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And moreover, let us learn to pass by this world, since what we enjoy at present is not our life but a road along which we must run swiftly, until we arrive at the rest in our inheritance. Hoping for life eternal, we must leave all this, which is nothing but a shadow; and our senses must not be wrapped up in all the things that are apparent to us and which can make us settle down in the world. For all who keep themselves to this world certainly separate themselves from the Son of God and become unworthy of any part or lot in his eternity. So then, let us withdraw from this world if we would be joined to the Son of God. —Sermons


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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