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May 21 Daily Devotional

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

John Calvin (compiled by John H. Kromminga)

Bible Text:

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. —II Timothy 2:24 .

Devotional:

The servant of God must not strive, but be gentle and patient and fit to teach. Here we will conclude that they who give themselves to vain questions show plainly that they have no desire nor zeal to serve God. For though a man be never so wise, yet notwithstanding we must count him as a desperate devil if we see he does not have this affection in him, to serve God, if he have not this end and mark before him, to honor God.

And surely it is not without cause that it was said in an old proverb that learning in a man that does not rule himself aright is like a sword in a madman's hand.

This is Saint Paul's meaning, to point out all them that are given to contention, to the end that we may detest them, and abhor them, as men that seek not in any way to serve God. And why? For these are things that can no more agree together than fire and water, to serve God and to love contentions and disputations, which breed nothing but strife and debate. —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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