Looking to the Lord
Suggested further reading: Psalm 73
The only way the faithful may be preserved from being led away by bad examples is to fix their eyes on God and to believe that he will be their deliverer.
Nothing is more difficult for us than to refrain from doing wrong when the ungodly provoke us, for they seem to offer us good reasons for retaliation. Even when no one injures us, the custom of retaliation seems just. We think that what is sanctioned by the manners and customs of our time is lawful, so that when the wicked are successful, this becomes a very strong incentive for us to follow their example.
Thus it happens that the faithful can hardly and with no small difficultly, keep themselves within proper bounds, for they see that wickedness reigns everywhere and with impunity. Even more, when they see those who encourage wickedness increase in esteem and wealth, immediately the corrupt lust of emulation creeps in.
But when the faithful themselves are provoked by injuries, there seems to be a particularly just reason for following the example of the wicked. They say that they wilfully do harm to no one, but they are only resisting an injury done to them. Or they are merely retaliating from fraud with fraud, which only seems just.
To prevent this temptation, the prophet bids the faithful to look to God. It is the same thought that is often expressed in Psalm 119; the faithful must not allow themselves to be led away by bad examples, but must continue to walk in obedience to God’s Word, however great and violent the provocations they receive.
FOR MEDIATION: If we find ourselves defrauded, our minds quickly justify fraudulent dealings in return. But hat is not how we are called to live, nor does it bring glory to God. Instead, we should look to God for our salvation and for his justice to prevail in whatever way he see fit. Vengeance is his.
365 with Calvin 26th May
Finding Peace in Suffering
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Suggested further reading Philippians 3
Those who meekly submit to their sufferings present acceptable obedience to God if this cross-bearing along with increased knowledge of sin teaches them to be humble.
Truly it is by faith alone that one can offer such a sacrifice to God. But the faithful also labor in procuring a livelihood with the advantage of being stimulated to repentance and customizing themselves to the mortification of the flesh. God often remits a portion of this curse to his own children lest they sink beneath the burden. Psalm 127:2 says, “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.”
As those things which have been polluted in Adam are repaired by the grace of Christ, the pious feel more deeply that God is good and enjoy the sweetness of his paternal indulgence. But because even at best the flesh is to be subdued, it not infrequently happens that the pious are worn down with hard labor and with hunger. So it is best that when we are admonished of the miseries of the present life, we should weep over our sins and seek relief from the grace of Christ, which not only can assuage the bitterness of grief but mingle sweetness with it.
FOR MEDITIATION: When we feel overwhelmed with work, illness, or other difficulties, it helps us to bring those matters to God in prayer. Why is this so? How does Christ our Savior graciously teach us to be humble as well as to enjoy the sweetness of his presence?
Trusting the Gospel
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3
Suggested Further Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
This verse warns us, first, to keep the pure doctrine which we know proceeds from God, for we cannot go wrong if we follow that rule. Also, seeing that in our Lord Jesus Christ we have the performance of all that is requisite and needful for our instruction, we have no need to doubt whether we must keep to the gospel or add something to it. So let us be content to take the Son of God as our master, especially as he condescends to stoop so low as to take that charge upon him. He also testifies that if we have profited well by his doctrine, we shall come to the true purpose for which we make our way.
You see, then, that the first lesson we gather from this passage is that our faith must not waver one way or another but rest on a sure and immovable foundation, namely, God’s truth as contained in the gospel. Seeing that we sufficiently acknowledge what Paul says to us here, let us not doubt that God’s Spirit speaks to us today by his mouth. Let us not hear the doctrine as if it were subject to our judgment, but let us subject our own understanding and minds to it and receive it without calling it in question, for otherwise we will wilfully make war against God and lift up ourselves above him. This is one of the things we should note from his passage.
FOR MEDITATION: As Calvin says, we must let revelation reign over our reason, not the other way round, as if we are the judges of whether or not what God says is true. With this right attitude, faith in the certain Word of God can flourish, and we can know that we stand on a sure foundation. Are you submitting your reason to the Word of God?
365 Days with Calvin. 1 October
Finding True Peace and Access
Ephesians 2:17-18. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Suggested for Further Reading John 14
Observe here that the gospel is the message of peace by which God declares himself reconciled to us and makes known his paternal love. Take away the gospel, and war and enmity continue to exist between God and men. On the other hand, the native tendency of the gospel is to give peace and calmness to the conscience, which otherwise would be tormented by distressing alarm.
For through him we both have access. This is an argument based on the fact that we are permitted to draw near to God. But it may also be viewed as an announcement of peace; for wicked men, lulled into a profound sleep, sometimes deceive themselves with false notions of peace. They think they are at rest when they have learned to forget divine judgment and to keep themselves at the greatest possible distance from God.
It is necessary to explain the nature of true peace, for it is widely different from a stupefied conscience, from false confidence, from proud boasting, and from ignorance of our own wretchedness. It is a settled composure which leads us not to dread but to desire and seek the feet of God. Now Christ opens the door to us, yes, he is himself the door (John 10:9).As this is a double door thrown open to admit both Jews and Gentiles, we are led to view God exhibiting his fatherly kindness to both. Paul adds that we have access to God by one Spirit, who leads and guides us to Christ and “by whom we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). From tis arises our boldness of approach. Jews had various means of drawing near to God, but now Jews and Gentiles have but one way; to one led by the Spirit of God.
FOR MEDITATION: Peace and access summarize the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peace may only be gained by access to God; apart from Christ, access to God brings anything but peace. Let us praise him, for granting us these two great blessings, which together comprise the greatest blessing.
365 days with Calvin. 1 September
Finding Safety in the Church
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 13:9
Suggested further reading: Hebrews 10:19-25
The Holy Spirit admonishes us not to conclude that people are true members of the church because most of them seem to excel other people. For just as the chaff lies above the wheat and suffocates it, thus hypocrites bury the sons of God, whose number is small. Hypocrites also shine forth in their own splendor, and great numbers of them seem to make them exclusively worthy of the title of the church.
Hence let us examine ourselves, searching whether we have the living root of piety and faith, which ae those interior marks by which God distinguishes his children from strangers, or hypocrites.
The passage also taches that nothing is more formidable than to be separated from God’s flock. We cannot hope for safety unless God collects us into one body under one head. When we safely reside in Christ alone, we cannot be separated from Christ without falling away from all hope of safety. Christ will not and cannot be torn from his church that he is joined to by an indissoluble knot, as the head is to the body. Hence, unless we cultivate unity with the faithful, we are also cut off from Christ. Nothing, then, is more fearful than to be separated from God’s people, and therefore from Christ.
Psalm 106:4 says, “Remember me, O God, in thy good will towards thy people: visit me with thy salvation.” When the author of the psalm prays this way, he acknowledges that we will have true and solid happiness when the Lord embraces us along with the rest of the faithful. For God’s good will toward his people is that fatherly kindness by which he embraces his elect.
If God thinks us worthy of his fatherly favour, then we may be truly confident of safety.
For Meditation: In a day when many Christians are focused only on their own individual relationship with God, this passage reminds us of the importance of the church. The church is not just a means to advance our own walk with God, but a divinely appointed institution. Connecting with the church is therefore not an option, but a requirement for true believers.
(365 days with Calvin. 3 May)