February 4 Daily Devotional

Bible Text:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. —I Timothy 1:1, 2

Devotional:

Are we beloved of God? Are we grounded and stayed fast upon his grace? He will send us what he shall think meet for us.... He will send his children what he knows is good for them, and if they have any want or need, he will comfort them, so that they may rejoice in the midst of their miseries; as Saint Paul says, that when we have this assurance of the love of God, that our souls rest on him, we may rejoice not only for the hope which he gives us of everlasting life, but also in this present life, because we know that he loves us. Although we are afflicted, yet we rejoice, because we know that he will turn all to our salvation, seeing he already gives us the feeling that he takes care of us. See how miseries shall serve the children of God, and by this means they may rejoice in them.

Now then we see how the grace of God is the beginning of all goodness and of all blessedness. And it is not without cause that Saint Paul joins them together. And thereby we also are taught not to set the cart before the horse when we ask of God that which is good for us. —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.