February 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Text:

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; —I Timothy 1:12

Devotional:

True it is that it pleased God that his gospel should be preached by men, which are frail creatures, and oftentimes of small account; but is it therefore to be said that because the pot is not worth a farthing the treasure which is hidden in it is the worse, or to be accounted of less value? Is the gold of less value because of the vessel wherein it is?

We know this is not so. So then, although our Lord sent us his word by mortal man, yet must we not therefore take occasion to make no account of it. And why so? Because it is always a glorious word. If there be majesty in God, it must needs be known in this, and whosoever scoffs and jests at this word, it is just the same as if he spat in God's face or cast stones against his kingly seat. —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.