May 2 Daily Devotional

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

John Calvin (compiled by John H. Kromminga)

Bible Reading

AUGUST 1 Bible Text: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. —Matthew 6:6 Devotional: He immediately adds a better direction, which is to enter into our closet, and there to pray with the door shut. In which words, as I understand them, he has taught us to seek retirement, that we may be enabled to descend into our own hearts with all our powers of reflection, and promised us that God, whose temples our bodies ought to be, will accede to the desires of our souls. For he did not intend to deny the 'expediency of praying also in other places; but shows that prayer is a kind of secret thing, which lies principally in the heart, and requires a tranquillity of mind undisturbed by all cares. It was not without reason therefore that the Lord himself, when he would engage in an unusual vehemence of devotion, retired to some solitary place, far from the tumult of men. And so it is to be concluded that whoever refuses to pray in the solemn assembly of the saints knows nothing of private prayer, either solitary or domestic. And again, that he who neglects solitary and private prayer, no matter how regularly he may frequent the public assemblies, only forms there such as are mere wind, because he pays more deference to the opinion of men than to the secret judgment of God. —Institutes, III, xx, xxix AUGUST 2 Bible Text: And they shall know that I am the Lord, and that 1 have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them. —Ezekiel 6:10 Devotional: God therefore says, "They shall then know that I have not spoken in vain, when I bring upon them this evil." This knowledge, which is produced by real dissatisfaction with self, is very useful. I have said that jt is the fruit of repentance, but at the same time it profits the miserable, to humble themselves seriously before God, and to call to memory their own ingratitude; then they perceive what they have never admitted before, that God is trustworthy as well in his threats as in his promises. Hence it happens that they reverently embrace his word which they had formerly despised. He pronounced the same thing previously concerning the reprobate, who as we have already said, feel God's hand without producing fruit. But because he now speaks of those very few whose conversion he had previously praised, he doubtless comprehends the fear of God under recognition or perception of him. For if all God's threats had been buried, the people could not be thought to have returned to the right way, nor could their conversion have any existence before God. That the sinner may submit himself sincerely to God, he ought to consider how he had formerly repudiated or neglected the word of God. —Commentaries AUGUST 3 Bible Text: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. —Isaiah 41:17 Devotional: "I Jehovah will listen to them." God declares that he will relieve them, when they are brought to this needy condition; and hence we ought to learn to whom this promise belongs, namely, to those who, having been reduced to extremity, are as it were parched with thirst and almost fainting. Hence also we see that the Church does not always possess an abundance of blessings, but sometimes feels the pressure of great poverty, that she may be driven by these spurs to call upon God. For we commonly fall into slothfulness, when everything moves on according to our wish. It is therefore advantageous to us to thirst and hunger, that we may learn to Bee to the Lord with our whole heart. In a word, we need to be deeply affected with a conviction of our poverty, that we may feel the Lord's assistance. The Prophet unquestionably intended, by this circumstance, partly to illustrate the greatness of the favor, and partly to advise the people not to lose heart on account of their poverty. —Commentaries AUGUST 4 Bible Text: I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; —Isaiah 51:12 Devotional: "I, I am . . ." Here the Lord not only promises grace and salvation to the Jews, but remonstrates with them for refusing to believe him, and for valuing his power less than they ought. It is exceedingly base to tremble at the threatenings of men to such a degree as to care nothing about God's assistance; for he displays his power for this purpose, that he may at least fortify us against every attack. Accordingly, by an excessive fear of men we betray contempt of God. Hence it is evident how sinful it is to be agitated by the terrors of men, when God calls us to repose. And indeed it is amazing ingratitude of men who, when they hear that God is on their side, derive no hope from his magnificent promises, so as to venture boldly to exclaim, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31). The consequence is that when dangers arise, they are terrified and confounded, and attribute far more to the power of mortal man in attacking them than to the power of God in defending. Justly, therefore, does he upbraid the Jews with not fortifying themselves by these promises, and with not rendering themselves invincible against every danger; for God is treated with the highest dishonor when we doubt his truth, that is, when we are so completely overcome by human terrors that we cannot rest on his promises. —Commentaries AUGUST 5 Bible Text: I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. —John 17:15 Devotional: "I ask not that thou shouldest take them out of the world." He shows in what the safety of believers consists, not that they are free from annoyance, and live in luxury and at their ease, but that in the midst of dangers they continue to be safe through the assistance of God. For he does not admonish the Father of what is proper to be done, but rather makes provision for their weakness, that, by the method which he prescribes, they may restrain their desires, which are apt to go beyond all bounds. In short, he promises to his disciples the grace of the Father; not to relieve them from all anxiety and toil, but to furnish them with invincible strength against their enemies, and not to suffer them to be overwhelmed by the heavy burden of contests which they will have to endure. If, therefore, we wish to be kept according to the rule which Christ has laid down, we must not desire exemption from evils, or pray to God to convey us immediately into a state of blessed rest, but must rest satisfied with the certain assurance of victory, and in the meantime, resist courageously all the evils from which Christ prayed to his Father that we might be set free. In short, God does not take his people out of the world, because he does not wish them to be effeminate and slothful; but he delivers them from evil, that they may not be overwhelmed; for he wishes them to fight, but does not suffer them to be mortally wounded. —Commentaries AUGUST 6 Bible Text: He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous .... He openeth also their ear to discipline.... If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity.... But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword.... —Job 36:7a, 10a, 11a, 12a Devotional: So then let us not murmur any longer when we see God sending such troubles into the world, neither let us be offended as though he had his eyes shut. For he well knows what he is doing, and he has an infinite wisdom which is not immediately apparent to us. In the end we shall see that he has disposed all things in good order and measure. Let us learn not to be too greatly grieved when we are so afflicted, assuring ourselves that God by that means is furthering our salvation. Besides, do we wish to be healed when we are in torment and pain? Do we want these things to have a favorable outcome? Then let us follow the way that is showed to us here, namely to hear and obey. How shall we hear? By being taught when God sends us to school, so that our affiictions may be like so many lessons to make us flee to him. Then let us hear these things, and let them not go in one ear and out the other. And let us obey, that is to say, let us yield to God the obedience that we owe him; and let us not seek anything else than to be conformed to him. What follows? We must not marvel when men linger in pain and are daily plunged deeper and deeper into misery; for which of them listens to God when he speaks? It is apparent how many are afflicted and tormented, and it is evident that God's whips are occupied everywhere nowadays. But how few are there that reflect upon them! You see a whole people oppressed with wars until they can endure no more; and yet we can hardly find a dozen men among a hundred thousand that hear God speak. Behold, the snapping of his whips do sound and echo in the air; there is horrible weeping and wailing everywhere; men cry out, "Alas, and woe is me!" And yet all the while they do not look at the hand that smites them. So then is it any wonder that God sends incurable wounds and does what is said in the Prophet Isaiah; namely, that from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head there is not a drop of soundness in the people, but there is leprosy, so that they are all rotten and infected, and their sores are incurable? Is this any wonder, seeing men are so thankless toward God that they shut him out of doors and will not listen to him, that they might obey him? —Sermons AUGUST 7 Bible Text: And if any man hear my words, and believe not, 1 judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. —John 12:47 Devotional: "If any man hear my words." After having spoken concerning his grace, and exhorted his disciples to steady faith, he now begins to strike the rebellious, though even here he mitigates the severity due to the wickedness of those who deliberately—as it were—reject God; for he delays to pronounce judgment on them, because, on the contrary, he has come for the salvation of all. In the first place, we ought to understand that he does not speak here of all unbelievers without distinction, but of those who, knowingly and wittingly, reject the doctrine of the gospel which has been exhibited to them. Why then does Christ not choose to condemn them? It is because he lays aside for a time the office of a judge, and offers salvation to all without reserve, and stretches out his arms to embrace all, that all may be the more encouraged to repent. And yet there is a circumstance of no small moment, by which he points out the aggravation of the crime, if they reject an invitation so kind and gracious, for it is as if he had said, "Lo, I am here to invite all, and, forgetting the character of a judge, I have this as my single object, to persuade all, and to rescue from destruction those who are already twice ruined." No man, therefore, is condemned on account of having despised the gospel, except he who, disdaining the lovely message of salvation, has chosen of his own accord to draw down destruction on himself. —Commentaries AUGUST 8 Bible Text: On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, —John 12:2 Devotional: This entrance of Christ is more copiously related by the other Evangelists; but John here embraces the leading points. In the first place, we ought to remember Christ's design, which was that he came to Jerusalem of his own accord, to offer himself to die; for it was necessary that his death should be voluntary, because the wrath of God could be appeased only by a sacrifice of obedience. And, indeed, he well knew what would be the result; but before he is dragged to the cross; he wishes to be solemnly acknowledged by the people as their King; nay, he openly declares that he commences his reign by advancing to death. But though his approach was celebrated by a vast crowd of people, still he remained unknown to his enemies until, by the fulfillment of prophecies, which we shall afterwards see in their own place, he proved that he was the true Messiah; for he wished to omit nothing that would contribute to the full confirmation of our faith. Thus strangers were more ready to discharge the duty of paying respect to the Son of God than the citizens of Jerusalem, who ought rather to have been an example to all others. For they had sacrifices daily; the temple was always before their eyes, which ought to have kindled in their hearts the desire of seeking God; these too were the highest teachers of the Church, and there was the sanctuary of Divine light. It is therefore a manifestation of excessively base ingratitude in them that, after they have been trained to such exercise from their earliest years, they reject or despise the Redeemer who had been promised to them. But this fault has prevailed in almost every age, that the more nearly and the more familiarly God approached to men, the more daringly did men despise God. —Commentaries AUGUST 9 Bible Text: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and ... whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. —Matthew 5:21, 22 Devotional: The end of this precept is that since God has connected mankind together in a kind of unity, every man ought to consider himself as charged with the safety of all. In short, then, all violence and injustice, and every kind of mischief, which may injure the body of our neighbor, are forbidden to us. And therefore we are enjoined, if it be in our power, to assist in protecting the lives of our neighbors; to exert ourselves with fidelity for this purpose; to procure those things which conduce to their tranquillity; to be vigilant in shielding them from injuries; and in cases of danger to afford them our assistance. If we remember that this is the language of the Divine Legislator, we should consider at the same time that he intends this rule to govern the soul. For it were ridiculous that he who beholds the thoughts of the heart and principally insists on them, should content himself with forming only the body to true righteousness. Mental homicide, therefore, is likewise prohibited, and an internal disposition to preserve the life of our brother is commanded in this law. Now the Scripture states two reasons on which this precept is founded; the first, that man is the image of God; the second, that he is our own flesh. Wherefore unless we would violate the image of God, we ought to hold the personal safety of our neighbor inviolably sacred; and unless we would divest ourselves of humanity, we ought to cherish him as our own flesh. These two characters, which are inseparable from the nature of man, God requires us to consider as motives to our exertions for his security; so that we may reverence his image impressed on him, and show an affectionate regard for our own flesh. —Commentaries AUGUST 10 Bible Text: Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? —Job 31:4 Devotional: Let us note the style that Job uses; which is that God marks his ways and steps and keeps a reckoning of them. This serves to indicate that God does not see them from a distance, nor does he see these things alone which are evident on the surface; but he looks closely at all our works and carefully notes every one of them. His sight is not dim, nor does he look at random, but he counts and numbers all things, so that nothing escapes him or is forgotten by him. Now then, I ask you, have we not good cause to consider our own ways and count our own steps when we see that all of them come forth before God? Why is it that men scarcely know the hundredth part of their sins? Some even commit the same sin a hundred times a day, and yet hardly think about it once. Why is this? It is because we do not think that God watches us, nor that we are so observed by him that nothing escapes his vision and nothing is forgotten by him. Therefore let us weigh well what is said here, that God knows our ways and counts our steps, that is to say, that the number of them is set down before him, and that every deed, from the first to the last, must come to account. You can see how much they will gain who have hidden their evil deeds with lying and flattery; for all must come to light. What remains, then? To watch ourselves more closely than we have been accustomed to do, and to be continually careful lest we be taken unawares by the snares that are laid for us on all sides. And seeing we are in danger from so many vices with which our nature is filled, let us examine them well, that we may be sorry for them and plead guilty before God; and while we mourn for them, let us still confess with David that it is impossible for us to know all our faults. And therefore let us pray the good God that when he has looked upon the faults and sins which we ourselves cannot see, it may please him to blot them out; that thereby we may come to repose our trust for our welfare and salvation in nothing else than in his receiving us in mercy for Jesus Christ's sake; and also in our having the washing with which he has cleansed us, that is to say, the blood which he has shed for our redemption. —Sermons AUGUST 11 Bible Text: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. —Psalm 127:2 Devotional: It is not surprIsing to find those growing rich in a short time who spare no exertion, but consume night and day in plying their occupations and allow themselves only scanty fare from the product of their labor. Solomon, however, affirms that neither living at small expense, nor diligence in business will by themselves profit anything at all. Not that he forbids us to practise temperance in our diet and to rise early to engage in our worldly business; but to stir us up to prayer, and to calling upon God, and also to recommend gratitude for the divine blessings, he brings to nought whatever would obscure the grace of God. Consequently, we shall then enter upon our worldly avocations in a right way when our hope depends exclusively upon God, and our success in that case will correspond to our wishes. But if a man, taking no account of God, eagerly makes haste, he will bring ruin upon himself by his too precipitate course. It is not, therefore, the design of the Prophet to encourage men to give way to sloth, so that they should think upon nothing all their life long, but fall asleep and abandon themselves to idleness; but his meaning is rather that in executing what God has enjoined upon them, they should always begin with prayer and calling upon his name, offering to him their labors that he may bless them. —Commentaries AUGUST 12 Bible Text: And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he sauh, Behold the Lamb of God! —John 1:36 Devotional: "Behold the Lamb of God." The principal office of Christ is briefly but clearly stated; that he "takes away the sins of the world" by the sacrifice of his death, and reconciles men to God. There are other favors, indeed, which Christ bestows upon us, but this is the chief favor, and the rest depend on it; that, by appeasing the wrath of God, he makes us to be reckoned holy and righteous. For from this source flow all the streams of blessings, that, by not imputing our sins, he receives us . into favor. Accordingly, John, in order to conduct us to Christ, commences with the gratuitous forgiveness of sins which we obtain through him. —Commentaries AUGUST 13 Bible Text: I will praise thee, 0 Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. —Psalm 9:1 Devotional: Even irreligious men, I admit, when they have obtained some memorable victory, are ashamed to defraud God of the praise which is due to him; but we see that as soon as they have uttered a single expression in acknowledgment of the assistance God has afforded them, they immediately begin to boast loudly, and to sing triumphs in honor of their own valor, as if they were under no obligations whatsoever to God. In short, it is a piece of pure mockery when they profess that their exploits have been done by the help of God; for, after having made oblation to him, they sacrifice to their own counsels, skill, courage, and resources. Observe how the prophet Habakkuk, under the person of one presumptuous king, wisely reproves the ambition which is common to all (Hab. 1:16). David, therefore, with good reason, affirms that he is unlike the children of this world, whose hypocrisy or fraud is discovered by the wicked and dishonest distribution which they make between God and themselves, arrogating to themselves the greater part of the praise which they pretended to ascribe to God. He praised God with his whole heart, which they did not; for certainly it is not praising God with the whole heart when mortal man dares to appropriate the smallest portion of the glory which God claims for himself. God cannot bear with seeing his glory appropriated by the creature in even the smallest degree, so intolerable to him is the sacrilegious arrogance of those who, by praising themselves, obscure his glory as far as they can. —Commentaries AUGUST 14 Bible Text: Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. —Isaiah 53:12 Devotional: So then, to be submissive to our Lord Jesus Christ, let us confess him as our King and do it sincerely. There is no doubt we obtain from him liberty in the first place; and after that, the blessings we need and which we lack unless we receive them at his hand. See how wretched we should be if Satan had not been plundered; for he possesses us, he enjoys us at his ease, just as our Lord Jesus declares. In a word, we are like his own possession and property. So we have need that the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ brings forth its fruit in us, and that our enemies may be not only overcome but also put to Hight; that Jesus Christ may, as it were, keep his foot on their throats, so that they may be powerless, though they scheme to do us harm. —Sermons AUGUST 15 Bible Text: And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. —Psalm 143:2 Devotional: To this point our eyes ought to have been raised, that we might learn rather to tremble through fear than to indulge in vain exultation. It is easy indeed, while the comparison is made only between men, for every man to imagine himself to be possessed of something which others ought not to despise; but when we ascend to the contemplation of God, that confidence is immediately lost. And the case of our soul with respect to God is similar to that of our body with respect to the visible heavens; for the eye, as long as it is employed in beholding adjacent objects, receives proofs of its own perspicacity; but if it be directed towards the sun, dazzled and confounded with his overpowering brightness, it feels no less debility in beholding him, than strength in the view of inferior objects. Let us not, then, deceive ourselves with a vain confidence, although we consider ourselves equal or superior to other men. That is nothing to God, to whose decision this cause must be submitted. But if our insolence cannot be restrained by these admonitions, he will reply to us in the language which he addressed to the Pharisees, "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Go now, and among men proudly glory in your righteousness, while the God of heaven abominates it. But what is the language of the servants of God, who are truly taught by his Spirit? One says, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." And another, though in a sense somewhat different, "How shall man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand." Here we are plainly informed respecting the righteousness of God, that it is such as no human works can satisfy; and such as renders it impossible for us, if accused of a thousand crimes, to exculpate ourselves from one of them. —Institutes,, III, xii, ii AUGUST 16 Bible Text: Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. —Psalm 50:14, 15 Devotional: There is in all men by nature a strong and ineffaceable conviction that they ought to worship God. Indisposed to worship him in a pure and spiritual manner, it becomes necessary that they should invent some specious appearance as a substitute; and however clearly they may be persuaded of the vanity of such conduct, they persist in it to the last, because they shrink from a total renunciation of the service of God. Men have always, accordingly, been found addicted to ceremonies until they have been brought to the knowledge of that which constitutes true and acceptable religion. Praise and prayer are here to be considered as representing the whole of the worship of God, according to a figure of speech. The Psalmist specifies only one part of Divine worship, when he enjoins us to acknowledge God as the Author of all our mercies, and to ascribe to him the praise which is justly due unto his name; and adds, that we should betake ourselves to his goodness, cast all our cares into his bosom, and seek by prayer that deliverance which he alone can give, and thanks for which must afterwards be rendered to him. Faith, self-denial, a holy life, and patient endurance of the cross, are all sacrifices which please God. But as prayer is the offspring of faith, and uniformly accompanied with patience and mortification of sin, while praise, where it is genuine, indicates holiness of heart, we need not wonder that these two points of worship should here be employed to represent the whole. Praise and prayer are set in opposition to ceremonies and mere external observances of religion, to teach us that the worship of God is spiritual. —Commentaries AUGUST 17 Bible Text: Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and. come hither. —John 4:16 Devotional: "Call thy husband." Such too is the obstinacy of many, that they will never listen to Christ until they have been subdued by violence. Whenever then we perceive that the oil of Christ has no Haver, it ought to be mixed with wine, that its taste may begin to be felt. Nay more, this is necessary for all of us; for we are not seriously affected by Christ speaking unless we have been aroused to repentance. So then, in order that anyone may profit in the school of Christ, his hardness must be subdued by the demonstration of his misery, as the earth, in order that it may become fruitful, is prepared and softened by the plowshare. For this knowledge alone shakes off all our Batteries, so that we no longer dare to mock God. Whenever, therefore, a neglect of the word of God steals upon us, no remedy will be more appropriate than that each of us should arouse himself to the consideration of his sins, that he may be ashamed of himself, and, trembling before the judgment seat of God, may be humbled to obey him whom he had wantonly disobeyed. —Commentaries AUGUST 18 Bible Text: A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. —Isaiah 42:3 Devotional: "Nor will he quench the smoking flax." Isaiah ascribes to Christ that forbearance by which he bears with our weakness, which we find to be actually fulfilled in him; for wherever any spark of piety is seen, he strengthens and kindles it, and if he were to act towards us with the utmost rigor, we should be reduced to nothing. Although men therefore totter and stumble, although they are even shaken out of joint, yet he does not at once cast them off as utterly useless, but bears long, till he makes them stronger and more steadfast. Not only did he act in this manner when he was.manifested to the world, but this is what he daily shows himself to be by the gospel. Following this example, the ministers of the gospel, who are his deputies, ought to show themselves to be meek, and to support the weak, and gently to lead them in the way, so as not to extinguish in them the feeblest spark of piety, but, on the contrary, to kindle them with all their might. —Commentaries AUGUST 19 Bible Text: Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; —I Corinthians 3:21,22 Devotional: But believers should accustom themselves to such a contempt of the present life as may not generate either hatred of life, or ingratitude towards God. For this life, though it is replete with innumerable miseries, is yet deservedly reckoned among the Divine blessings which must not be despised. Wherefore, if we discover nothing of the Divine beneficence in it, we are already guilty of no small ingratitude towards God himself. But to believers especially, it should be a testimony of the Divine benevolence, since the whole of it is destined to the advancement of their salvation. For before he openly discovers to them the inheritance of eternal glory, he intends to reveal himself as our Father in inferior instances; and those are the benefits which he daily confers on us. Since this life, then, is subservient to a knowledge of the Divine goodness, shall we fastidiously scorn it, as though it contained no particle of goodness in it? We must therefore have this sense and affection, to class it among the bounties of the Divine benignity which are not to be rejected. For if Scripture testimones were wanting, which are very numerous and clear, even nature itself exhorts us to give thanks to the Lord for having introduced us to the light of life, for granting us the use of it, and giving us all the helps necessary to its preservation. And it is a far superior reason for gratitude, if we consider that here we are in some measure prepared for the glory of the heavenly kingdom. For the Lord has ordained that they who are to be hereafter crowned in heaven must first engage in conflicts on earth, that they may not triumph without having surmounted the difficulties of warfare and obtained the victory. Another reason is that here we begin in various blessings to taste the sweetness of the Divine benignity, that our hope and desire may be excited after the full revelation of it. When we have come to this conclusion, that our life in this world is a gift of the Divine clemency, which, as we owe to him, we ought to remember with gratitude, it will then be time for us to descend to a consideration of its most miserable condition that we may be delivered from excessive love of it, to which, as has been observed, we are naturally inclined. —Institutes,, III, ix, iii AUGUST 20 Bible Text: And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace. —John 1:16 Devotional: "And of his fulness." True indeed, the fountain of life, righteousness, virtue, and wisdom, is with God, but to us it is a hidden and inaccessible fountain. But an abundance of those things is exhibited to us in Christ, that we may be permitted to have recourse to him; for he is ready to flow to us, provided that we open up a channel by faith. He declares in general that out of Christ we ought not to seek anything good, though this sentence consists of several clauses. First, he shows that we are all utterly destitute and empty of spiritual blessings; for the abundance which exists in Christ is intended to supply our deficiency, to relieve our poverty, to satisfy our hunger and thirst. Secondly, he warns us that, as soon as we have departed from Christ, it is in vain for us to seek a single drop of happiness, because God has determined that whatever is good shall reside in him alone. Accordingly, we shall find angels and men to be dry, heaven to be empty, the earth to be unproductive, and in short all things to be of no value, if we wish to be partakers of the gifts of God in any other way than through Christ. Thirdly, he assures us that we shall have no reason to fear the want of any thing, provided that we draw from the fulness of Christ, which is in every respect so complete, that we shall experience it to be a truly inexhaustible fountain; and John classes himself with the rest, not for the sake of modesty, but to make it more evident that no man whatever is excepted. —Commentaries AUGUST 21 Bible Text: For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. —Isaiah 37:35 Devotional: "For my own sake." When he says that he will do this "for his own sake," he calls on Hezekiah and all believers to remember his gracious covenant. In order to prevent them from despairing, he shows that God will be their defender, not because he finds any cause in them, but rather because he looks to himself; first that he may adhere firmly to his purpose, not to cast away the posterity of Abraham which he adopted, not to abolish religious worship, not to blot out the remembrance of his name on the earth by destroying his sanctuary;' and, secondly, not to expose his name to the jeers and blasphemies of the nations. And these words contain an implied reproof which that nation ought to have felt to be severe, and justly; because the good king had more difficulty in pacifying them than in repelling the enemy; for they distrusted and stormed and thought that no hope of safety was left for them. The Lord, therefore, did not look at the merits of the people or of any other person, but only had regard to his own glory; for the contrast which is expressed by Ezekiel must be here understood, "Not for your sakes, O house of Israel, will I do this, but for my own sake" (Ezek. 36:22). Now, since we have the same argument to plead in the present day, let us not hesitate to make use of this shield against our sins, "Though we most highly deserve a thousand deaths, yet it is enough for God to look to his goodness and faithfulness, that he may fulfill what he has promised." Though it is of no advantage to hypocrites that Cod is the continual protector of his Church, yet the elect will always have this as a very safe refuge, that although they bring nothing of their own to appease the wrath of God, yet since God, moved by nothing else than his infinite goodness, built his Church and determined to defend it, he will never suffer it to perish. —Commentaries AUGUST 22 Bible Text: But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt CllCcording to the deceitful lusts; —Ephesians 4:20–22 Devotional: This is a proper place to address those who have nothing but the name and the symbol of Christ, and yet would be called Christians. But with what face do they glory in his sacred name? For none have any intercourse with Christ but those who have received the true knowledge of him from the word of the gospel. Now the apostle denies' that any have rightly learned Christ, who have not been taught that they must put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and put on Christ. Their knowledge of Christ, then, is proved to be a false and injurious pretense, with whatever eloquence and volubility they may talk concerning the gospel. But it is a doctrine, not of the tongue, but of the life; and is not apprehended merely with the understanding and memory, like other sciences, but is then only received, when it possesses the whole soul, and finds a seat and residence in the inmost affection of the heart. Let them, therefore, either cease to insult God by boasting themselves to be what they are not, or show themselves disciples not unworthy of Christ, their Master. We have allotted the first place to the doctrine which contains our religion, because it is the origin of our salvation; but that it may not be unprofitable to us, it must be transfused into our breast, pervade our manners, and thus transform us into itself. —Institutes,, III, vi, iv AUGUST 23 Bible Text: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; —I Timothy 1:1 Devotional: No man ought to be heard in the Church of Christ unless he be sent; for our faith must not hang upon mortal man, neither upon creatures. None has sovereignty and rule over our souls, but God only, and as for the doctrine of our salvation, we may receive it of none, but of him only. Notwithstanding, he does not come down from heaven in visible shape to speak to us, nor does he send his angels unto us; but he wills that we be taught by means of men. And therefore, if we will show our obedience to God, we must receive his word, which is preached unto us by them to whom he has given this charge and office. —Sermons AUGUST 24 Bible Text: Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. —I John 4:10 Devotional: Thus, by a pure and gratuitous love towards us, he is excited to receive us into favor. But if there is a perpetual and irreconcilable opposition between righteousness and iniquity, he cannot receive us entirely, as long as we remain sinners. Therefore, to remove all occasion of enmity, and to reconcile us completely to himself, he abolishes all our guilt, by the expiation exhibited in the death of Christ, that we, who before were polluted and impure, may appear righteous and holy in his sight. The love of God the Father therefore precedes our reconciliation in Christ; or rather it is because he first loves, that he afterwards reconciles us to himself. But because, till Christ relieves us by his death, we are not freed from that iniquity which deserves the indignation of God, and is accursed and condemned in his sight; we have not a complete and solid union with God, before we are united to him by Christ. And therefore if we would assure ourselves that God is pacified and propitious to us, we must fix our eyes and hearts on Christ alone, since it is by him only that we really obtain the non-imputation of sins, the imputation of which is connected with the Divine wrath. —Institutes, II, xvi, iii AUGUST 25 Bible Text: If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. —Job 31:5, 6 Devotional: Let us learn also to humble ourselves, seeing that the devil is trying to put us to sleep by hypocrisy in order that we may not recognize our faults, and that they may grow worse and worse. Let us then look within ourselves, and after we have examined our imperfections, let us cry out before God, "Alas, Lord! thou hast given me thy grace to go forward in thy service; I do my best, I strive, I resist all my passions, and I fight against myself; and yet I am not righteous before thee, but there is much wrong with me still." That is how the faithful, after striving to the limit of their strength, ought always to retain this opinion when there remains any sinfulness mingled with the good which God enables them to do; they must learn to plead guilty before him and to humble themselves, that they may receive grace. But although we have many fantasies running in our heads from day to day, and thereby perceive that there is terrible corruption in our nature, yet we must not lose heart, but march on still, praying God that he who has begun to give us progress will continue to set us forward and increase in us the strength of his Holy Spirit. And when the devil comes to incite us to evil, let him not succeed against us, but let us look for help from above; and let us pray that God's Spirit may so reign in our hearts that though there be wicked affections there, they may be so bridled and fettered that they should not toss us hither and thither, but that we may stand steadfast, and be always ready to say, "It is good that God should govern us, and that we should follow his holy will." —Sermons AUGUST 26 Bible Text: Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. —I Timothy 1:4 Devotional: So then God has not given us his word to feed us only without profit, as the world would that we should tickle their ears, and that there were nothing in us but only to delight their mind and make them merry. God does not mean to dally here with us, but his mind is that we receive some good instruction, that is to say, that we receive profit by his word. Therefore all they that do not apply the word of God to good profit and use, are contemners and falsifiers of good and wholesome doctrine. In short, the word of God is as it were profaned and made vile, unless we apply it thus profitably that we receive good instruction to our salvation by it. Therefore let us learn that God will not have temples here to sport and laugh in as if there were plays played here; but there must be majesty in his word, by which we may be moved and touched; and moreover a profitable instruction to salvation, and we must be nourished with this spiritual food, so that we may feel that it is not in vain that God speaks to us. —Sermons AUGUST 27 Bible Text: But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. —Job 32:8 Devotional: If it is God that gives special understanding to men to understand the things that pertain to this Reeting life, what is to be said of the Gospel and of true religion? Have we these by nature? Can we purchase them by our own labor? Alas, we must fall far short. If a man should be a good schoolmaster to teach children, or a good lawyer or physician, or a good merchant in a city or a good laborer in the country; it is the Spirit of God that accomplishes all these things. One man needs to be sharp-witted in one thing more than in another; as sometimes mechanical arts require greater skill than merchandising. Now then, when we come to the doctrine of the Gospel, there is a wisdom which surmounts all of man's understanding, and is wonderful even to the angels. The very secrets of heaven are contained in the Gospel, for it concerns the knowledge of God in the person of his Son. And although our Lord Jesus Christ descended here below, yet we must comprehend his godly majesty, or else we cannot establish our faith in him. This is a matter, I say, which is incomprehensible to human nature. Now then, if God with respect to mechanical arts, with respect to human sciences which concern this transitory life, must distribute to us his Holy Spirit, much more ought we to realize that our wisdom is not sufficient to know the things of God and the secrets of his kingdom, and that it is necessary that we be taught by him. In the meantime we must become fools in ourselves that we may be taught by him, as Saint Paul says (l Corinthians 3: 18) .... And this ought to be carefully noted; for we are often dazzled when we see that there are so few who acknowledge the things of God, and indeed, that many aged people who have lived a long time in the world are lost in their superstitions, and fight stubbornly against the doctrine of the Gospel. —Sermons AUGUST 28 Bible Text: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. —Psalm 37:25 Devotional: We must bear in mind that with respect to the temporal blessings which God confers upon his people, no certain or uniform rule can be established. There are various reasons why God does not manifest his favor equally to all the godly in this world. He chastises some, while he spares others; he heals the secret maladies of some, and passes by others, because they have no need of a like remedy; he exercises the patience of some, according as he has given them the spirit of fortitude; and, finally, he sets forth others by way of example. But in general he humbles all of them by the tokens of his anger, that by secret warnings they may be brought to repentance. Besides, he leads them, by a variety of afflictions, to fix their thoughts in meditation upon the heavenly life; and yet it is not a vain or imaginary thing that, as is set forth in the Law, God vouchsafes earthly blessings to his servants as proofs of his favor toward them. I confess, I say, that it is not in vain, or for nought, that an abundance of earthly blessings sufficient for the supply of all their wants, is promised to the godly. This, however, is always to be understood with this limitation, that God will bestow these blessings only in so far as he shall consider it expedient; and, accordingly, it may happen that the blessing of God may be manifested in the life of men in general, and yet some of the godly be pinched with poverty, because it is for their good. —Commentaries AUGUST 29 Bible Text: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and luwe dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. —Genesis I:28 Devotional: Now, as I have just before suggested, God himself has demonstrated, by the very order of creation, that he made all things for the sake of man. For it was not without reason that he distributed the making of the world into six days; though it would have been no more difficult for him to complete the whole work, in all its parts, at once, in a single moment, than to arrive at its completion by such progressive advances. But in this he has been pleased to display his providence and paternal solicitude towards us, since, before he would make man, he prepared everything which he foresaw would be useful or beneficial to him. How great would be now the ingratitude to doubt whether we are regarded by this best of fathers, whom we perceive to have been solicitous on our account before we existed! How impious would it be to tremble with diffidence, lest at any time his kindness should desert us in our necessities, which we see was displayed in the greatest afHuence of all blessings provided for us while we were yet unborn! Besides, we are told by Moses that this liberality has subjected to us all that is contained in the whole world. He certainly has not made this declaration in order to tantalize us with the empty name of such a donation. Therefore we never shall be destitute of anything which will conduce to our welfare. Finally, to conclude, whenever we call God the Creator of heaven and earth, let us at the same time reflect, that the dispensation of all those things which he has made is in his own power, and that we are his children, whom he has received into his charge and custody, to be supported and educated; so that we may expect every blessing from him alone, and cherish a certain hope that he will never suffer us to want those things which are necessary to our well-being, that our hope may depend on no other; that, whatever we need or desire, our prayers may be directed to him, and that, from whatever quarter we receive any advantage, we may acknowledge it to be his benefit, and confess it with thanksgiving; that, being allured with such great sweetness of goodness and beneficence, we may study to love and worship him with all our hearts. —Institutes, I, xiv, xxii AUGUST 30 Bible Text: O Lord, rebuke tne not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. —Psalm 38:1 Devotional: "O Jehovah! rebuke me not in thy wrath." David does not expressly ask that his afRictions should be removed, but only that God would moderate the severity of his chastisements. Hence we may infer that David did not give loose rein to the desires of the flesh, but offered up his earnest prayer in a duly chastened spirit of devotion. All men would naturally desire that permission should be granted them to sin with impunity. But David lays a restraint upon his desires, and does not wish the favor and indulgence of God to be extended beyond measure, but is content with a softening of his affiiction; as if he had said, Lord, I am not unwilling to be chastised by thee, but I entreat thee, meanwhile, not to afflict me beyond what I am able to bear, but to temper the fierceness of thy indignation according to the measure of my infirmity, lest the severity of the affiiction should entirely overwhelm me. This prayer, as I have said, was framed according to the rule of godliness; for it contains nothing but what God promises to all his children. It should also be noticed that David does not secretly indulge a fretful and repining spirit, but spreads his complaint before God; and this he does, not in the way of sinful complaining, but of humble prayer and unfeigned confession, accompanied with the hope of obtaining forgiveness. He has used anger and wrath as denoting extreme rigor, and has contrasted them with fatherly chastisement. —Commentaries AUGUST 31 Bible Text: Thy kingdom come. Thy will he done in earth, as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:10 Devotional: Now since the Divine word resembles a royal sceptre, we are commanded to pray that he will subdue the hearts and minds of all men to a voluntary obedience to it. This is accomplished when by the secret inspiration of the Spirit he displays the efficacy of his word and causes it to obtain the honor it deserves. Afterwards it is our duty to descend to the impious, by whom his authority is resisted with the perseverance of obstinacy and the fury of despair. God therefore erects his kingdom on the humiliation of the whole world, though his methods of humiliation are various; for he restrains the passions of some, and breaks the unsubdued arrogance of others. It ought to be the object of our daily wishes, that God would collect churches for himself from all the countries of the earth, that he would enlarge their numbers, enrich them with gifts, and establish a legitimate order among them; that on the contrary he would overthrow all the enemies of the pure doctrine and religion, that he would confound their counsels and defeat their attempts. —Institutes, III, xx, xlii
Devotional

Bible Text:

Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. —Isaiah 52:6

Devotional:

We ought carefully to observe the word "know"; for to "know the name of the Lord" is to lay aside every false opinion, and to know him from his word, which is his true image, and next from his works. We must not imagine God according to the fancy of men, but must comprehend him as he declares himself to us.

The Lord, therefore, concludes that he will actually assist them, and will fulfill all that he has promised, that the people may know that their hope has not been without foundation, and that they may be more and more confirmed in the knowledge of his name. We must keep in remembrance that experiential knowledge confirms the truth of the word. —Commentaries

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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