March 23- First Commandment and Introduction

Rembrandt 1659
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/23- First Commandment
“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, our of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:1,2)


Calvin’s Catechism:
M. And what does he require under this first head?
S. That we maintain his honor entire and for himself alone, not transferring any part of it elsewhere.
M. What is the honor peculiar to him which it is unlawful to transfer elsewhere!
S. To adore him, to put our confidence in him, to call upon him, in short to pay him all
the deference suitable to his majesty.

For Calvin, the law of God is written on our hearts and into the very structure of existence. He placed his study of the commandments under book II- the Redemption of God, for he saw law as having redeeming value as our guide in life. The law was “God’s gracious intention for the world.” It is given by a loving God to guide us on the right path and steer us into doing what we were made to do, and being the kind of people we were made to be. Jesus Christ doesn’t deliver us from the law itself, but from the “rigor” of the law- the eternal consequences of disobedience, and the problem and guilt of perfectionism.
There are three principles Calvin used in interpreting the ten commandments we need to think about:
1) They are not just about outward actions but inward spiritual righteousness.
So Jesus said lusting is the same as adultery.
2) They always contain more than just words.
For example, every negative prohibition has a positive obligation (do not lie also means
be honest and forthright).
3) The division into two tables is important.
It points out that law keeping begins with belief in a law-giver.
The first commandment then, is a reminder that God created us and freed us from slavery and bondage. For Calvin, we are all in bondage spiritually to sin, and we need to be set free. Part of our bondage is worshipping false Gods with great superstition. Last week we had a missionary speak at our church. He told of one of his trips to India where a native told him that a lady and her husband had faced terrible economic troubles. The Brahman told them to sacrifice to the gods. They did, but still had desperate troubles. The Brahman suggested they sacrifice their two year old daughter to “Mother Ganges.” When the native missionary got to them, it was sadly too late for the daughter, but not too late for them. Superstition is an evil master that has no end of requirements for us. The martyrs of 911 are not to be admired but to be looked upon with sadness and as a warning of how the worship of other gods can steer us astray. In our pluralistic society, it is very easy to say that our choice of faith doesn’t matter. Postmodernism tells us that what matters is not our choice but our sincerity and tolerance of others. If we were in heaven that would be alright, but we are not- and people make bad choices and create evil gods. Atheism is another choice. While atheists say they are not a religion, I have not seen many atheists who do not uphold their belief in non-belief without a great deal of rigor. If you look on the internet these days, there are a lot of very, very angry unbelievers who really need peace with God. We all need peace with God- the true God. True peace comes from the true God. Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless til they find their rest in Thee.”

Prayer: Help us, O God to see your truth and not be ashamed to follow it. Help us to follow you truly, but also with humility. We recognize there is nothing in us that enables us to follow you. We also recognize we need to tell others of your grace and love. Thank you for the commandments that point us into your will for us.

March 22- Baptism and Circumcision

Baptism by Lucas Cranach
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/22- The Lord’s Day- Baptism

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your sinful nature was put off when you were circumcised with Christ having been buried with him in baptism. (Colossians 2:11,12)
Calvin: But since before baptism was instituted God’s people had circumcision instead, let us examine how these two signs differ from each other, and in what respects they are alike. From this will appear the anagogic relationship of the one to the other. When the Lord commands Abraham to observe circumcision, he previously states that he will be God to him and his descendants [ Genesis 17:7, 10], adding that he possesses the abundance and sufficiency of all things [ Genesis 17:1, 6, 8]… As God, when he adopts the posterity of Abraham as his people, commands them to be circumcised, so Moses declares that they ought to be circumcised in heart, explaining the true meaning of this carnal circumcision. We have, therefore, a spiritual promise given to the patriarchs in circumcision such as is given us in baptism, since it represented for them forgiveness of sins and mortification of flesh… The promise (in which we have shown the power of the signs to consist) is the same in both, namely, that of God’s fatherly favor, of forgiveness of sins, and of eternal life. Then the thing represented is the same, namely, regeneration. In both there is one foundation upon which the fulfillment of these things rests. Therefore, there is no difference in the inner mystery, by which the whole force and character of the sacraments are to be weighed… For circumcision was for the Jews their first entry into the church, because it was a token to them by which they were assured of adoption as the people and household of God, and they in turn professed to enlist in God’s service. In like manner, we also are consecrated to God through baptism, to be reckoned as his people, and in turn we swear fealty to him. By this it appears incontrovertible that baptism has taken the place of circumcision to fulfill the same office among us. (IV.16,3,4)

Calvin’s great teaching on baptism was that it should be viewed similar to the rite of circumcision in the Old Testament. He saw the difference between the two as being in externals only. Baptism is simpler, easier to recover from, and may be administered to both sexes. But here are some similarities hinted at in Calvin:
1) Both symbolized dying to sin- Circumcision was a “rolling away” of our reproach to God; baptism is a dying with Christ (Calvin called this “mortification”).
2) Both were external symbols of an internal good-
(circumcise your hearts; baptism of the Spirit)
3) Both were initiation rites- a means of entrance into the family of God.
4) Both represented inclusion or adoption into the family.
5) Both are indelible- that is, they cannot be undone- you can’t be unbaptized or uncircumcised.
Once the water is on you, it cannot be erased.
6) Both symbolize the (covenant) promises of faith- Without faith, both rituals are meaningless.
7) Both involve covenant obligations- Calvin speaks of “swearing fealty.”
In both we are claiming our allegiance is to God.

Prayer: Lord, we have been baptized. Thank you for your promises that go along with this. Thank you that you are our God, and we are your people. Help our lives today to reflect this.

March 21- The Third Use of the Law

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/21- The Third Use of the Law

“How can those who are young keep their way pure? By living according to your Word. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto thy path.” (Psalm 119:8,105)

Calvin: Again, because we need not only teaching but also exhortation, the servant of God will also avail himself of this benefit of the law: by frequent meditation upon it to be aroused to obedience, be strengthened in it, and be drawn back from the slippery path of transgression. In this way the saints must press on; for, however eagerly they may in accordance with the Spirit strive toward God’s righteousness. (Inst. II.7.13)

"Law" are the commandments. "Gospel" is God’s grace. Some traditions separate them sharply. John Leith said, “John Calvin distinguished between law and gospel but he did not separate them. Behind both the law and the gospel is the gracious will of God. The law contains the gospel. The gospel also contains the law.” There is a three-fold use of the law- 1) it convicts us of where we have gone wrong; 2)it restrains public unrighteousness; 3) It guides us in life. Luther agreed to the first two uses, but he did not see the third use. One of Calvin's unique contributions to the Reformation was to see the law as our guide (the third use of the law).
The Bible is a guidebook, a map, a gps for us to plot the course of our lives, and keep us on the right road, the narrow path. There is something to be learned from each part of scripture. II Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness.
Would that we had a guidebook for our economy. I have read some who say that the stimulus plan will bring rampant inflation, and others who say it will give us the boost we need. We don't know for sure. Wouldn't it be nice if God would guide us?
He may not guide us about the economy, but He certainly longs to guide us in our lives.
Calvin says the law is not a curse any more but an exhortation. The law no longer condemns us. We must distinguish between what parts of the law are applicable for us and what parts are not. The ceremonial law (sacrifices, dietary, holidays) no longer applies to us, but the moral law applies to us. So we should pay attention to what God says to us. He is trying to shape and guide our lives according to His Word. It does no good for God to have the law available to us if we will not read it, get it into our lives, or listen to it.
There are so many ways to get the Bible into our lives, and let it guide us. The Bible is on ipod, utube, dvd, cd, internet (www.biblegateway.com), and more.

Prayer: You lead us, O God. Thank you for the scripture that are a lamp unto my path.

March 20- Moderation and Balance

3/20- The Importance of Moderation and Balance

“Be careful then that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t they be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against them and wound their weak conscience you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” I Corinthians 8:9-13

Calvin: But since he [Christ] was uncorrupted, a moderation that restrained excess flourished in all his emotions. So he could be like us in sorrow, fear, and dread, yet in such a way as to differ from us by this characteristic [of moderation].

Calvinism has traditionally prided itself on being the middle way. Parts of Zwingliism moved toward Anabaptist theology with its radical reform. The Anabaptists denied all authority and civil government, were pacifists, condemned oaths and courts, and excommunicated people often. Calvin was able to formulate a more moderate ground. Calvin actually married an Anabaptist wife, Idelette Bure. He was not for radicalizing the church, bur to reforming the church more to the Word of God.
Ronald Wallace in his classic work on Calvin has Calvin’s theory of moderation as one of his key concepts and contributions to the Reformation. Calvin found scripture to be a “rule of temperance” that helped us to control our appetites and excesses. For Calvin, a mark of a Christian was the ability to restrain from excess and to sacrifice for the glory of God. A Christian did not take part in extravagant luxuries nor waste of the gifts God gives us. In some ways, such a concept brought up the middle class, and took away the idea that the nobles had a right to excess while the serfs lived in starvation mode. In our day, the middle class is eroding in part because we have lost this Christian ethic of restraint, self-control (a fruit of the Spirit), and moderation. Too much desire for things we cannot afford has killed the housing market, and too much bad debt has almost nationalized our banks. I hope we will see the need to repent to restraint and moderation.
Another aspect of moderation is Christian freedom. Respecting others’ opinions on secondary things has been an important part of the unity of the church. Some saw eating meat previously offered to idols as an affront to the true God and idol worship. Others saw idols as nothing and so meat offered to a nothing meant nothing. But what the church had to see, and what scripture upholds is the idea of respecting others’ opinions on controversial and secondary matters.
Today, our denomination needs to stick to its worked-on compromise about the ordination of homosexuals to hold the church together. It should not listen to those who want to split the church, nor should it listen to those who want to ordain everyone no matter what. There is no need to radicalize the church, but to show love and restraint in the name of Christ.
The idea of moderation is important for every day life as well. The Bible does not forbid drinking wine, but it does forbid getting drunk (Calvin held to this as well). The use of media should be viewed this way. Perhaps the easy thing would be to say to our kids (or ourselves) "You can't watch any TV, listen to any radio, or use the internet because of the evil things that are sometimes there." It should be the same with finances. We do not need to live extravagantly nor as paupers- but within the means God gave us. Part of our economic downfall has been we have lost our balance.
Because something is abused that does not mean it should be forsaken. I believe humans usually find a way to abuse most if not all things in life. We must live in this world. But we must live in this world clinging to Christ, letting Him give us a balance. Christ showed us it is possible for even God to come down into this world and resist temptation.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live well-balanced lives. Keep us from excess and bend us toward living more simply, moderately, and lovingly that you may be honored above ourselves. Amen.

March 19 - The possibility of knowing God

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/19- Calvin on the Knowledge of God

“This is what the Lord says, ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength, or the rich boast of their riches. But let those who boast boast about this: that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” Jeremiah 9:23,24
“Righteous father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25,26
“I want to know Christ—yes to know the power of his resurrection and participate in his sufferings.” Philippians 3:10

Calvin (in Genevan Catechism): Teacher: What is the principle end of human life?
Student: It is to know God.
The first two books of Calvin’s Institutes are entitled, “The Knowledge of God the Creator” and “The Knowledge of God the Redeemer.”
“Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” (Institutes I.1.1- opening sentence).

We can know God. God is not hidden, so distant, so uncaring or so silent that we cannot begin to know Him. In fact, the good news of the gospel is that God wants to be known by us. Christ’s coming to earth is a big deal- God’s seeking to know us and for us to know Him.
I have talked to many church people who tell me that they cannot know God. They say God is so high above us that it is impossible. But while I may not know God fully (I see in a mirror dimly), that does not mean that I cannot know God at all, and at least in part accurately. Just as I do not know everything about my wife of 28 years (yes, she's still a mystery to me- and that's good), I don't know all about God. But the Bible says Abraham called God "friend." I can know my friend is loving, trustworthy, faithful in what they say. I can have a relationship with a friend and in a sense "know" them accurately but not fully. I can grow in my knowledge of my friend. It would be impossible to know God if God did not reveal Himself to us.
We know God because God wants us to know Him. This is a gift of God’s grace to us. We do not know God’s essence as much as who God is in relation to us, and as He reveals Himself to us. God takes his infinite knowledge of Himself as an infinite, eternal, all wise being, and accommodates that knowledge so we might understand. He also overcomes our blindness, our deafness, our sinfulness, by making us alive to and aware of Him.
When Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, suffered a stroke, his wife and aids kept him from the public. No one really saw him. He didn’t want people to see Him in his weakness. Some feel that way about God. But God came down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. While God reveals something about Himself in nature and in humanity, He reveals Himself as redeemer most clearly in the person of Jesus Christ revealed in scripture.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you want us to know you. You have invited us to know you. Help us to accept that invitation and to seek and find you as our Lord and God.

March 18- Sola Scriptura

(Genevan Bible New Testament cover 1599 ed.]
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/18- Sola Scriptura

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

Calvin (In The Genevan Confession attributed to Calvin and Farel): First we affirm that we desire to follow Scripture alone as rule of faith and religion without mixing with it any other thing which might be devised by the opinion of men apart from the Word of God, and without wishing to accept for our spiritual government any other doctrine than what is conveyed to us by the same Word without addition or diminution, according to the command of our Lord.

The Bible does not depend on the church to give it authority, but upon God’s Holy Spirit. Calvin saw himself less a philosopher and more of a Biblical scholar. Calvin saw scripture as being written by different human beings, but the Holy Spirit overcame the differences of culture, style, language, background to bring about a unity of message and theme. Calvin, more than any other theologian (writes Leith) used the whole canon of scripture as the basis for his theology. Today many downplay the role of the whole canon ("canon" means the accepted scriptures), and they speak of a “canon within the canon" (or some parts of scripture as more authoritative than others). The problem with this is that we pick things agreeable to us, and leave the things out we don’t like- a cafeteria faith. In effect, this is writing scripture according to our own thinking. While we all pay attention to part and ignore part- it is a part of human nature- we should at least TRY to check (or stop)such picking and choosing. There is a balance between making the scripture culturally relevant and ignoring scripture altogether. An example of this would be wearing a hat or wearing our hair a certain way. Some scriptures say we should wear our hair a certain way. But we know from other scriptures God doesn’t care about outward appearance. But clear disobedience to a clear prohibition of God in scripture destroys the purpose of Bible study, and undermines the foundations of the church.
In the recent debate about the ordination of homosexuals, one proponent for the ordination said that “we need to separate exegesis from ethics.” Exegesis is the study of scripture. Ethics is our standards of behavior. So do we really want to separate- put a wall up- between scripture and our behavior? Are we saying we do not WANT scripture to influence our behavior anymore? This is an illustration that we need a new reformation in which God's Word is our authority. Otherwise we are living in the sick kind of mentality that was prevalent in the times of the judges: "Everyone did what was right in their own eyes." Being a Christian means trying to do what is right in God's eyes.
Calvin was very much aware that our sinful nature blinds us to our own faults, and that we do not like to be rebuked by God. If the Bible cannot correct us, then it is a weak word indeed. Scripture alone is our standard (rule) of faith and life. It is not psychology, as good as that is; nor science; nor church tradition; God speaks in all truth- similarly to how God speaks in nature. The heavens tell the glory of God. But the Bible is the spectacles to help us discern God’s real word in nature.

Prayer: Lord, there are many voices giving us advice. Help us to hear your voice speaking to us in scripture and live by it.

March 17- Limits of Scripture

(Geneva Bible front page)

3//17- Calvin on the Limits of Scripture

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. “ John 16:12,13

Calvin: Moses wrote in a popular style things which, without instruction, all ordinary persons, endued with common sense are able to understand; but astronomers investigate with great labor whatever the sagacity of the human mind can comprehend. Nevertheless, this study is not to be reprobated, nor this science to be condemned…For astronomy is not only pleasant but also very useful to be known..Nor did Moses truly wish to withdraw us form this pursuit…Had he spoken of things generally unknown, the uneducated might have pleaded in excuse that such subjects were beyond their capacity. (Gen. 1:16)

Scripture is not our God. We do not worship the Bible. Though it should be treated with respect, it is not to be treated like a good luck charm. I had a friend of mine who would not put the Bible in a drawer lest it be in the dark. He would not put another book on top of it, because he believed there was no other book as important as the Bible. I remember Dr. Leith telling me that you could always tell the difference between a person of Reformed faith and an Episcopalian or Roman Catholic for how they treated the elements after communion. The Episcopalian or Catholic would eat or drink it until it was all gone. The Presbyterian would put the bread in the trash (or out for the birds), and pour the drink down the sink. For Zwinglian reformers the elements were just reminders of what Christ had done. For Calvinists the elements were made real and sacramental by the Holy Spirit in worship- after worship they were just material things. The Reformed have similar attitudes toward the water used in baptism and the Bible. The element itself is not the important thing. The Holy Spirit is what makes the element holy and useful. It is the same with church buildings, church furniture, ministers, anything. I believe, however, when the Holy Spirit has used something so much, and has been in a place so much, there is a certain residual presence. There have been times when I have walked into a place and felt God’s presence there and I assume it is because of the Holy Spirit’s being there, and the prayers prayed and worship held. I don’t know if Calvin would agree with me, but that is my experience. I have on occasion picked up a Bible used by a great saint (usually a lay person) and had an experience of God’s Holy Spirit too. But this is not quantifiable. Certainly in scripture the ark of the covenant was holy and powerful. When I made the trip to Israel, I was surprised that the most moving place for me was the temple wall- the wailing wall. The Bible is a means of grace- similar to a sacrament. Popular theologian, Marcus Borg, speaks of the Bible as similar to a sacrament, but then he doesn't treat it seriously. We must take the words of scripture to heart, and not just write them off. Without the right preaching of the scriptures, the church does not exist (which, in my opinion, is why many churches are dying).
There is another sense in which scripture is limited for Calvin. It is limited by us. Not just the writers (many scholars today point out the human limits of the writers). Calvin spoke of the limits of the readers (us). God is limited in what He can tell us by our own lack of understanding and sinfulness. God accommodated himself to our own understanding and lifestyle in Jesus. Jesus limited himself to what he told his disciples because they weren’t “able to bear” the teachings. I have often thought if God told the smartest astronomer all about the stars, the astronomer wouldn’t be able to take it in. God cannot tell us his complete plan for us or we would be overwhelmed too. God is gracious, and goes easy on us. He does not seek to overwhelm us with his majesty or his knowledge. Rather God comes down to our level, and gives us just enough.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for scripture that communicates what we need to hear and how we need to hear it. Help us to listen and apply it to our lives.

March 16- Holy Spirit and Holy Scriptures

(Picture of Geneva Bible 1560 edition- English translation with Calvin's principles)

3/16- Calvin on the Holy Spirit and Scripture

“I Came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.” (I Corinthians 2:3-5)

Calvin: Thus, the highest proof of Scripture derives in general from the fact that God in person speaks in it. The prophets and apostles do not boast either of their keenness or of anything that obtains credit for them as they speak; nor do they dwell upon rational proofs. Rather, they bring forward God’s holy name, that by it the whole world may be brought into obedience to him. Now we ought to see how apparent it is not only by plausible opinion but by clear truth that they do not call upon God’s name heedlessly or falsely. (I.7.4) For scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so nothing is taught but what is expedient to know.”

The Brief Statement of faith says, “The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through scripture.” The scripture means nothing without the Holy Spirit illuminating it and applying it to our lives. Scripture may be the Word of God, but it is like the womb of Mary until the Holy Spirit moves upon it conceiving Christ. Calvin still believed in tradition. But tradition had to be tested by scripture itself, and tradition was secondary to scripture. Sola scriptura was the motto of the reformation meaning the authority is not the pope nor the church, nor the ancient writings of the fathers, but all is tested with the scripture.
The scripture was inspired by the Spirit, the Spirit illuminates scripture, and the scripture inspires us by the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholics on the one hand, were saying the pope and tradition were important along with the scriptures. The AnaBaptists on the other hand, were saying we should listen to the Spirit even when what they thought was the spirit spoke against scripture. For Calvin, the Spirit inspired scripture and illuminates and applies scripture- but God never contradicts Himself.
Today in the church there are many who are saying we can ignore scripture to do what we feel is right. The classic example is the ordination of (unrepentant, practicing) homosexual debate. There are really few people who think that the scriptures (both Old and New Testaments) don’t forbid acts of homosexuality. But many are saying we can ignore the scriptures because the spirit is moving us in other directions. Calvin would retort that God is truth and truth does not contradict itself because it is convenient, expedient, or popular. The Spirit does not say one thing in scripture and another thing later. One of the tests for a false prophet in Deuteronomy was if that prophet said something that was against the law.
The Holy Spirit speaks through scripture, and scripture is our only standard. If we toss out scripture in our lives and in our church, we are tossing ourselves out into the storm, letting the winds of doctrine blow us everywhere without a rudder. Worse, we have lost the real ability to discern God's will.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, inspire us through your inspired Word. Help us to hear and respond to you.

March 15- The Importance of Scripture

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/15- The Lord’s Day- Calvin on the Importance of Scripture

“All scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16,17)"Uphold them by the truth, Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)

Calvin: “For by his word, God rendered faith unambiguous forever, a faith that should be superior to all opinion . The whole power of earth has armed itself to destroy it [the Scripture], yet all these efforts have gone up in smoke. How could it, assailed so strongly from every side, have resisted if it had relied upon human protection alone? Rather, by this very fact, it is proved to be from God, because, with all human efforts striving against it, still it has of its own power thus far prevailed. Besides this, it is not one state, not one people, that has agreed to receive and embrace it; but as far and as wide as the earth extends, it has obtained its authority by the holy concord of divers peoples, who otherwise had nothing in common among themselves. Such agreement of minds, so disparate and otherwise disagreeing in everything among themselves. Such agreement of minds, so disparate and otherwise disagreeing in everything among themselves, ought to move us greatly, since it is clear that this agreement is brought about by nothing else than the divine will. Yet no little weight is added thereto when we observe the godliness of those who so agree, not of all, indeed, but of those whom the Lord has made to shine as lamps in his church

Calvin describes the scriptures as spectacles that help us to see God when our eyes are dim to Him (I.6.1). He declares that they are the work of human hands but they were received from God’s own mouth. For Calvin the diversity of the human writers disappears under the unity of the Holy Spirit. Calvin says that when we read scripture “It is God who speaks to us and not mere men” (Commentary on II Peter 1:20). Calvin admits that God reveals Himself in nature to the elect, and in scripture to the elect. The non-elect do not understand God’s work in nature because their eyes are blinded. The non-elect can see the same thing as the elect in scripture, but the Spirit has not made them alive and opened their eyes to see yet. Scriptures are our guide, our inspiration, our spectacles into God’s presence and heart. The right preaching of the scriptures, and the right administration of the Lord’s supper and baptism are the signs of the true church.
While we have more access to scripture than ever before (ipod, cd, libraries, bookstores); and the Bible is still the best-selling book in America; and we also have more "proofs" of the reality of scripture than ever before by archaeologists, and there are Bible studies galore, if we do not believe what it says and apply it to our lives, then we are basically "deaf" to the scriptures. Today, there is a growing movement to pick and choose what to believe in scripture without any rhyme or reason. Calvin believed that the Holy Spirit used our discernment to interpret scriptures, but today there is just downright unbelief of the basic teachings among those who call themselves believers. Such unbelief- a cafeteria approach that picks and chooses- puts us in the place of God. It says we will create our own religion using some scriptural principles. There is a sense, and Calvin (and Jesus) deeply held it, in which faith in God is also faith in what God says (Word) in scripture.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your holy Word that teaches us, guides us, strengthens us, consoles us, corrects us, and equips us to honor you. Help us to make them more a part of our lives. Amen.

March 14- Thine is the kingdom

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

3/14- The Conclusion of All Prayers- Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory, amen.

Calvin: This is firm and tranquil repose for our faith. For if our prayers were to be commended to God by our worth, who would dare even mutter in his presence? Now, however miserable we may be, though unworthiest of all, however devoid of all commendation,we will yet never lack a reason to pray, never be shorn of assurance, since his Kingdom, power, and glory can never be snatched away from our
Father.
The Heidelberg Catechism paraphrases this conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer this way, “we ask all this of thee because, as our King, you are willing and able to give us all that is good since you have power over all things, and that by this not we ourselves but your holy name may be glorified forever.”
It goes on, “Amen means: this shall truly and certainly be. For my prayer is much more certainly heard by God than I am persuaded in my heart that I desire such things from him.”
Who is in charge? If we are in charge, we cannot say this, and we should answer our own prayers. But if God is in charge, and he has the power or ability to answer, then we are in good shape. It is good news that we are not in charge (ever seen the movie "God Amighty"?) or that businesses or the government is not in charge. Calvin rightly points out that no one can "snatch" the kingdom away from God. Kings and presidents come adn go. Governments and countries do as well. But God sits enthroned above all of them.
Jesus also reminds us that God’s glory is the reason, purpose, and power of prayer.

Prayer: Indeed, Lord, you are king alone. We are not. We humble ourselves before you asking that you would hear our prayers and answer them. Amen.

March 13- Lead Us Not Into Temptation

3/13- The Lord’s Prayer- 6th Petition- Lead us Not into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil

By this we are instructed that we need not only the grace of the Spirit, to soften our hearts within and to bend and direct them to obey God, but also his aid, to render us invincible against both all the stratagems and all the violent assaults of Satan. Now
the forms of temptations are indeed many and varied. For wicked conceptions of the mind, provoking us to transgress the law, which either our own inordinate desire suggests to us or the devil prompts, are temptations, as are things not evil of their own nature yet which become temptations through the devil’s devices, when they are so thrust before our eyes that by their appearance we are drawn away or turn aside from
God. (III. 20.46)

Calvin talks of the temptations from the right (the haves) and the temptations from the left (the have nots). On the one hand, we may be tempted when we have riches, honor, and power. We are tempted in our pride to forget God and think we no longer need Him. On the other hand, we may be tempted by poverty, disgrace, contempt, afflictions, which may keep us so depressed that we feel like it is no use to call on God. Both are wrong, and both are forgetting God. One because of plenty or the other because of thinking God has forgotten us in our poverty. Both ways of forgetting God are fueled by pride and allowing circumstances to control our lives. In the last six months, we may have been tempted both ways- by the pride of having, and the despair of losing. We need to pray that God would deliver us.
Calvin said our understanding of “evil” in “deliverance from evil” could be Satan or sin, it makes no practical difference. We are delivered from evil when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. It makes sense- when we are filled with good, there is no room for evil. Another key to deliverance from evil for Calvin is simply to believe that God will help us through our afflictions. “While we petition, then, to be freed from Satan and sin, we anticipate that new increases of God’s grace will continually be showered upon us, until, completely filled therewith, we triumph over all evil.” (III.20.46). In general, Calvinists did not focus on the devil or Satan nearly as much as other branches of Christianity (or Islam). Calvin beleived if we are filled with love for God and focus on Him, then there is no room for the devil or evil.
In our day, people are shocked to call anything "evil." Everything is a gray area- always a mixture of right and wrong. Postmodernism is the philosophy of the day- and that philosophy lends itself to thinking that the only wrong is to call something "wrong" (or worse- "evil"). But, it does matter. Child sacrifice is wrong. Murder is wrong. Stealing is wrong. There are always mitigating circumstances, and we all do bad things- but that does not erase that sin is sin and we need to be delivered from evil. Because we are all in the mix of sin- and our hearts are deceived and blinded to our own sin- we need God (the outside force) to deliver us.
The hymn confirms this teaching: “Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou dost do.”

On a practical side, it is helpful to know which things are the most tempting to you. It is not that we want to dwell on the temptation, but rather to be filled with good in its opposite area so we may triumph.

Prayer: Father, we are tempted by many things today. Evil is all around us- tv, internet, and there is a lack of morality around us. Help us, O God, to resist temptation. Lead us into quiet places during harsh times.

March 12- Forgive Us Our Debts

3/12- The Lord’s Prayer- 5th Petition- Forgive us Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another- just as God in Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Calvin: He calls sins “debts” because we owe penalty for them, and we could in no way satisfy it unless we were released by this forgiveness. This pardon comes of his free mercy, by which he himself generously wipes out these debts, exacting no payment from us but making satisfaction to himself by his own mercy in Christ, who once for all gave himself as a ransom [cf. Romans 3:24]. Therefore those who trust that God is satisfied with their own or others’ merits, and that by such satisfaction forgiveness of sins is paid for and purchased, share not at all in this free gift. And while they call upon God according to this form, they do nothing but subscribe to their own accusation, and even seal their condemnation by their own testimony. For they confess they are debtors unless they are released by the benefit of forgiveness, which they still do not accept but rather spurn, while they thrust their merits and satisfactions upon God. For thus they do not entreat his mercy but call his judgment.” (III.20.44)

Why do Presbyterians so stalwartly pray “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” whereas everyone else prays, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us?” Calvin calls them “debts” because we owe a penalty for them. Christ came and paid our debt- our ransom by his death on the cross.
Those who think they are not in need of forgiveness are wrong and are close to hardening their hearts. I remember once I met a fellow who had just bought a huge house at the beach. I met him at a party given by one of my church members. He told me that he “had always been wealthy, and was a Harvard man, and that he didn’t have any need for church or for forgiveness.” I was shocked at his pride and his boldness. After thinking about this a lot, I really began to feel pity for him. One day, he will get sick, or perhaps he will get old, or perhaps he will lose a loved one (maybe to his pride), and he will not have God in his life to help sustain him.
We also need to forgive others because we have been forgiven, and in order to continue to be forgiven. In an amazing statement- right after he gives his disciples the Lord’s Prayer Jesus says, “For it you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14,15). This is the only statement after the Lord’s Prayer- and it seems to be a re-emphasis of his teaching on prayer. Of all the petitions, this is the one (forgiveness ) that is brought up again. Forgiveness by God and forgiveness of others is so very important for us. Without it, love dies, hearts are hardened, and relationships broken.
So for Lent, let’s find someone to forgive today!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for forgiveness. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Help me to forgive others because you have forgiven me. Amen.

March 11- Give us This Day Our Daily Bread

(Picture: Starving Child from Darfur)

3/11- Lord’s Payer 4th Petition- Give us This Day our Daily Bread
This begins the second part of the Lord’s prayer and focuses on human beings.

Calvin: “But by this petition we ask of God all things in general that our bodies have need to use under the elements of this world [ Galatians 4:3], not only for food and clothing but also for everything God perceives to be beneficial to us, that we may eat our daily bread in peace. Briefly, by this we give ourselves over to his care, and entrust ourselves to his providence, that he may feed, nourish, and preserve us.”

Even the most devout of us still wrestles with the worries of this world. It is almost a natural thing that we are consumed with greater care of our bodies than of our souls. It is a test and a great exercise of our faith to trust the God will provide what we need.
In Calvin’s day, as in our own, there were some who said God wasn’t talking about the bread that feeds our bodies but only the bread that feeds our souls (supersubstantial bread they called it). But the simple meaning of the text was real bread. When Jesus fed the 5,000 it wasn’t spiritual bread, but real bread. God cares not just for our souls, but also for our minds and bodies. God is God of all. Some fear today that God will not or cannot help us with our physical needs. I believe they need to expand their vision of God. On the other hand are the “health and wealth” people who think that just because we are Christians we should be wealthy- if we pray hard enough. To this view I would say Jesus said, “daily bread” not extra bread. The example of our Lord is important. He didn’t have a home, he didn’t have a bunch of clothes, he didn’t have great transportation, yet he didn’t starve and he was at peace. Sometimes God does bless the godly with wealth, but that is not the rule for all who believe.
Calvin talks about this “daily” bread concept. He said it emphasizes God’s care for us day by day. It is not that God wound up the clock and left, but he cares for us each day. Daily bread restrains us from amassing great wealth and becoming greedy. Finally, daily bread reminds us of God’s ability to help us enjoy this daily bread- by ingesting it and benefiting from it. Calvin often had digestive problems (colic he said). He was grateful when he could eat and enjoy it.
Daily bread is “ours.” It is given to us by God, yet earned by our own honest toil. It should not be earned in such a way that others are purposefully harmed. It is by God’s blessing alone that our labors prosper. Human responsibility interplays with divine providence for Calvin. So we are called to work and trust God. So we are called to help the hungry (as in Darfur)in God's name.
Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat" (Mt. 25:35).
In our day, this is an important concept. God is "Jehovah Jireh" (God our Provider). The fact that we are so secular today is in part our belief that we have pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps, and we do not need God to provide for our needs. Now, with our economic problems, my hope is that we will recognize God is our provider, and in God we trust. I hope we will call out to God to provide and help us in our time of need.

Prayer: Father, many have lost their jobs. Many have lost their savings. Many are in fear of not having daily bread. Help us, in this faltering economy, to remember you and rely on you. Amen.

March 10- Thy Will be done

(woodcut of Burning of Bucer's books- including works of Calvin)

3/10- Lord’s Prayer 3rd Petition- Thy Will be Done On Earth as it is in Heaven (Mt. 6:10)

Calvin: We are therefore bidden to desire that, just as in heaven nothing is done apart from God’s good pleasure, and the angels dwell together in all peace and uprightness, the earth be in like manner subject to such a rule, with all arrogance and wickedness brought to an end. And in asking this we renounce the desires of our flesh; for whoever does not resign and submit his feelings to God opposes as much as he can God’s will, since only what is corrupt comes forth from us. And again by this prayer we are formed to self-denial so God may rule us according to his decision. And not this alone but also so he may create new minds and hearts in us.” (III.20.43)

In a sense God is already king. He rules in His providence and out of his love. But in another sense (talked about in this petition), we are not there yet. His kingship comes more completely when we submit our wills to His will. As noted earlier, Calvin ties “thy kingdom come” to “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When God is truly (fully and really) king, then his will will be done.
In heaven everything is done for God’s good pleasure. There is peace, obedience, and joy there that is not yet on this earth. I remember Jesus’ words recorded in John 19:22- “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Today the official poll results came out- since 1990 the number of Americans believing in Jesus Christ has dropped from 86% to 76%. This means a ten percent drop in people who think that God has a will for them, that God cares for them, or that there is forgiveness for sins and ultimate meaning in life. How we should be heart broken over this! How we need to pray that people grow in their desire to seek His will, and to find it. How we need to share our faith so that more will know that God’s will can be done on earth as it is in heaven. In tough economic times, it is extra sad that a growing number of people are giving up on their faith that can give them strength in tough times, and that they are teaching their children that there is no ultimate hope in life.
The way we work for God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven is to deny ourselves and our will so that God’s glory and God’s will may be made evident. I know for me, it is hard (even as a minister) to share my faith. Yet, it is so important, that I see the need for me to deny my comfort, my shyness, my fears, and do what God has commanded me to do- pass the faith on to others. We do need to seek to please Him above others or ourselves. In fact, the real gist of this petition for Calvin is that we may learn to love what pleases Him and hate what displeases Him.

This is the conclusion of the first part of the Lord’s Prayer. Calvin notes that these things will come to pass whether we pray for them or not. Yet it is good to pray these petitions as to do so is to testify that we are God’s servants and children. Those who will not hallow God’s name, or pray for his kingdom and will to be done, are not likely true servants of God.

Prayer: Lord, today, not my will but your will be done. Today, may I seek to cast myself aside that I may honor you. Amen.

March 9- Thy Kingdom Come

(Francis I- wishy washy king of France, going back and forth protecting and persecuting Protestants. He gave up his Protestantism to be king. Calvin dedicated the Institutes to him- he never read it.).

March 9- Second Petition- Thy Kingdom Come (Matthew 6:10)

Calvin: “God reigns where men, both by denial of themselves and by contempt of the world and of earthly life, pledge themselves to his righteousness in order to aspire to a heavenly life. Thus there are two parts to this Kingdom: first, that God by the power of his Spirit correct all the desires of the flesh which by squadrons war against him; second, that he shape all our thoughts in obedience to his rule.” (III.20.42)

For Calvin the second petition- “thy kingdom come” was not much different in content than the first petition “Hallowed be thy name.” But it is a prayer that motivates us to seek and work for the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
God reigns where people pledge themselves to his righteousness and aspire to live a heavenly life here on this earth. This comes by 1) denying our selfish desires, and 2) not loving the world so much that we cannot let go of it (contempt of the world).
There are two ways that God works to bring his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven: 1) By the Holy Spirit’s forming and gathering His church. 2) By frustrating the plans of the impious.
For Calvin this petition in our prayer motivates us in three ways:
1) Drawing us back from worldly corruption.
2) Ignites a zeal for dying to ourselves and living for God.
3) Gives us hope and instruction when we bear the crosses of life.

Christians are always citizens of another kingdom. Even though (in general) we are to be the best citizens where God has placed us, we are very aware of the limitations of the earthly kingdom and are not surprised. This spring, as the Obama administration has been getting off to a start, the corruption in government has come to light. Three nominees to cabinet positions resigned because of tax scandals. The Governor of Illinois was forced to resign for his corruption in replacing Obama’s senate seat. There have been corruptions in Republican and Democratic sides. In our state, there has been widespread publicity about $450,000 from payday lenders being put in the coffers of our legislator’s campaigns. The Payday lenders brazenly hired the last democratic candidate for governor to be a lobbyist for them after his failed campaign. Mexico is almost on the brink of civil war. The news today was that the “drug czar” of Mexico’s government was arrested for receiving $450,000 (what is it with this figure?) from the drug lords to look the other way. America is my nation, and I am a great patriot- I would die for my country and do so appreciate its freedom and its characteristics. Yet this world is not our home- we are strangers and pilgrims. Our true kingdom is yet to come, but we want to bring a little bit of this kingdom down to earth now.

Prayer: God, you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. Give us grace, strength, and protection to work for your kingdom, and make this world a better place. Amen

March 8- First Petition

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.
March 8 – The first petition “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

The scripture this week is the Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4

The first petition is that God’s name be hallowed [ Matthew 6:9]; the need for it is associated with our great shame. For what is more unworthy than for God’s glory to be obscured partly by our ungratefulness, partly by our ill will, and so far as lies in our power, destroyed by our presumption and insane impudence? Though all ungodly
men should break out with their sacrilegious license, the holiness of God’s name still shines…we should wish God to have the honor he deserves; men should never speak or think of him without the highest reverence. To this is opposed the profanity that has always been too common and even today is abroad in the world. Hence the need of this petition, which ought to have been superfluous if even a little godliness existed among us. (III.20.41)

Calvin believed the Lord’s Prayer, as scripture should be used often but not just in a rote way. He thought Christ’s teaching is summarized here and that we can not only learn about prayer, but also about God and ourselves in this great prayer.
“Our Father”- Calvin was wonderful in his emphasis that we are adopted as children of God. Because God indeed is our Father, and not like any earthly father, we should approach him with confidence. Because God is our Father, that makes us brothers and sisters who believe in Him.
“In heaven”- Calvin saw a threefold meaning here: 1) God transcends all place; 2) He is lifted above all chance and change; 3) He holds together all of the universe and controls it by His power.
“Hallowed be thy name” calls upon people to give honor to God, giving Him highest reverence. We live in a day in which many profane the name of God. People are travelling all over the country debating the existence of God (there was a debate at the University of South Carolina this past February that drew too much attention). Calvin rightly said we cannot control such things, but we can- in our prayer life- lift up the reverence of God.

Prayer: Lord, you alone are truly holy. Help us to grow in our respect for you. Help our lives to glorify your holy name. Amen.

March 7- Reason to Pray

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.
March 7
Prayer and Human Need and Intercession

“The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food at their proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15,16)
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth.” Psalm 121:1,2


Calvin: We clearly see how destitute and devoid of all good things man is, and how he lacks all aids to salvation. Therefore, if he seeks resources to succor him in his need, he must go outside himself and get them elsewhere. It was afterward explained to us that the Lord willingly and freely reveals himself in his Christ. For in Christ he offers all happiness in place of our misery, all wealth in place of our neediness; in him he opens to us the heavenly treasures that our whole faith may contemplate his beloved Son, our whole expectation depend upon him, and our whole hope cleave to and rest in him.
But after we have been instructed by faith to recognize that whatever we need and whatever we lack is in God, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the Father willed all the fullness of his bounty to abide [cf. Colossians 1:19; John 1:16] so that we may all draw from it as from an overflowing spring, it remains for us to seek in him, and in prayers to ask of him, what we have learned to be in him. Otherwise, to know God as the master and bestower of all good things, who invites us to request them of him, and still not go to him and not ask of him—this would be of as little profit as for a man to neglect a treasure, buried and hidden in the earth, after it had been pointed out to him.
(III.20.1)

Calvin began every worship service with these words: “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.” Calvin was very aware of the limits of human beings, and our state of spiritual, mental, and physical poverty. He was, in contrast, very much aware of God’s great majesty and willingness to help us in our time of need. Prayer for him was the link between these great gaps.
Prayer is not made in a vacuum. It is elicited from human need. Calvin gave six reasons we should pray in the Institutes. They are worthy of our thought:
1) That we would be motivated to seek Him and find refuge in Him.
2) That we would be open to God- so we know He sees our wrong and also He sees our desires.
3) That we learn to be grateful to Him for what He gives us.
4) That we might think on God and His kingdom (Mt. 6:33- seek first His kingdom and righteousness).
5) That we may enjoy the answers to prayer with greater delight.
6) To confirm his providence in our minds- that he is a never-failing help in our time of need.
Calvin then gives four rules to help us in our prayer life.
1) We should prepare our hearts and minds for prayer (focus and reliance on the Holy Spirit)
2) We should pray according to our need and desire- not out of rote duty.
3) Stand humbly before God abandoning self-glory and seeking His glory.
4) Pray with a sure hope that our prayers will be answered.
Calvin was against praying just for the sake of praying. While he was not opposed to using written prayers (like the Lord’s Prayer or other ancient prayers), he was opposed to saying things over and over again (like the rosary) as a king of good luck charm. I can remember a rote and heart-felt prayer: “Lord, help me pass this exam, help me pass this exam, help me pass this exam.” Calvin really wanted us to have a balance of public prayers together and private prayer that comes from our hearts. 95% of Americans pray. I’ve always found it interesting that even unbelievers pray. Calvin even points out that God sometimes answers an unbeliever’s prayer. But for Calvin, prayer is not just about getting an answer (though he strongly believed that God answers prayer). Prayer is also about getting closer to God and allowing God to glorify Himself by the answers to prayer. We are commanded to pray, but it is not something we approach simply because we have to do it. It is a tool, a blessing God has given us.
Calvin spoke of praying when we rise, when we eat, and when we retire. Today, I will think about the prayer requests from church at each time I bless my food.

Prayer: Lord you see our hearts. Help us to see you as our help, our refuge and our strength. Amen.
 

March 6- World Day of Prayer

March 6-
World Day of Prayer- The Holy Spirit and Prayer
“In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but eh Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26,27)
Calvin: how dangerous it is to seek from the Lord what our greed dictates; at the same time he discloses our unhappiness, in that we cannot even open our mouths before God without danger unless the Spirit instructs us in the right pattern for prayer (III.20.34)

World Day of Prayer was a day originally instituted by women to pray for women and children around the world that they would know Christ, and be helped in their lives. The first Friday in March is World Day of Prayer.
Prayer must come from the heart, but it is always inspired by the Spirit. Calvin saw the dangers of the Anabaptists who separated the Spirit from the Word. The Spirit inspired the Word and illuminates the Word. The Spirit helps us to pray according to the Word as well, inspiring us to use the words of scripture, and consoling us as we pray and read through scripture.
The danger for Calvin is to use mindless words, babbling. Jesus forbade such ramblings as show and meaningless (Matthew 6:5-7). Instead, the Spirit uses our minds and the scriptures to help our prayers be meaningful and purposeful. The Lord’s Prayer (that we shall look at soon) is an example of a prayer in scripture that we can use. But even in this great prayer, we should not just run through it like it was a magic charm or amulet. Rather we should think as we pray, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Today at my church (Lake Murray Presbyterian) there will be a prayer meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the church to pray for our world, for missions, and for the church (our presbytery meets the next day to talk about General Assembly). We will take prayer requests and pray through some scriptures.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for our world- especially for women and children on this World Day of Prayer. We pray for your church that it will remain true to your will and not waver nor falter. Lord, you looked at people with compassion and saw they were like sheep without a shepherd. You asked us to pray that you would raise up workers for your harvest field. We ask that you would give us that same heart of compassion. We ask that you would indeed draw people to yourself- the Great Sherpherd of the sheep. We ask that you would raise up new leaders who would be faithful to your Spirit and Word. We pray that the love, grace, and peace you offer will be known to all people. Amen.

March 5- What is Prayer?

(Albrecht Durer's Praying Hands- Durer was a contemporary of Calvin)

March 5
Prayer as an Expression of the heart to God
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. “ (Ps. 55:22). “Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7

Calvin: God permits us to reveal our hearts familiarly before him; for prayer is nothing else than the opening up of our heart before God; as the greatest alleviation is, to pour our cares, distresses, and anxieties into his bosom. (Commentary on Isaiah 63:16).

Some have defined prayer as “talking to God” or “conversing with God.” The Westminster Shorter Catechism hints at Calvin’s teaching when it says, “prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things that are agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.” Prayer is taking our hearts to the Lord.
Prayer is the disburdening of the soul to God. Other people may not be able to handle our complaints, our anxieties. But if we take our concerns to God in prayer we are cleansed of our complaint, and God is called into our situation. Calvin saw one purpose in affliction is to not let it eat at our hearts but to unburden ourselves to Him. We are not to complain all the time to each other (Phil. 2:10), nor are we to bottle everything up inside. Our hearts are to be poured out to God- for He is able to do something about our situation.
Since we are not to pray for show (on street corners or in loud voices) but to the heart of God, we should seek to simplify our prayers. Our prayers do not depend on how flowery our words are, or with what eloquence we may speak. Jesus told us to go into our closet, shut the door and pray to our Father who is unseen. Prayer does not depend on the exterior things- posture or eloquence.
Calvin’s idea was that the heart should move and direct the tongue, and that the tongue should not go before the heart, and that the body should follow the mind of its own accord. Calvin noted that sometimes the heart is cold and needs to be warmed up with singing (from the tongue), or bowing down with the body. But even then the mind should follow the tongue and body or prayer should be avoided out of a desire to not be hypocritical.
Prayer: Lord, change our hearts as we talk to you in prayer. Help us to live our faith on the outside because you are changing us on the inside. Amen.

March 4- Thanksgiving and Prayer

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.
{Picture is of Genevan Psalter- the early Calvinists were known for their singing of the Psalms)

March 4
“Give thanks unto the Lord for He is good. His mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 106:1
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:17-19)


Calvin: “Thanksgiving is the chief exercise in godliness in which we ought to engage during the whole of our life. “ (Psalm 50:3 commentary); “Our Lord gives all that is in the world as gifts to sustain us, in order that all life (and ourselves) give praise back to Him.” (CR 31:507). there is such a close connection between petition and thanksgiving that they may conveniently be included under one name. In asking and beseeching, we pour out our desires before God, seeking both those things which make for the extension of his glory and the setting forth of his name, and those benefits which conduce to our own advantage. In giving thanks, we celebrate with due praise his benefits toward us, and credit to his generosity every good that comes to us. (III.20.28)

Today is Noah’s Day- when the animals came out of the ark he said, “March forth!” A little pun in these trying times. You can bet Noah was glad to march forth out of that ark. He made a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
In tough economic times, thanksgiving for what we have lifts our spirits, and takes the edge off of our sorrow. Calvin often referred to thanksgiving as “the sacrifice of praise.” God wants us to give not just the sacrifices we bring, but the praise (Romans 12:1).
Thanksgiving and asking go together for Calvin. Both are for the glory of God, and both involve us in the person of God, recognizing God is our provider and the one who answers our prayers. Thanksgiving also is a check against selfish praying. When we give thanks to God for answered prayer it motivates us to pray some more. Calvin indicated that thanksgiving “opens the gate of prayer.”
If we were not thankful for the prayers that God answers, it does something to us and also to our relationship with God. If I never said “thank you” to those around me, then I would be self-centered. I am not likely to get more help if I don’t say “thanks” for the help already given. Human beings liked to be thanked. God does as well. In fact, God knows it is good for us to acknowledge Him in our lives. To live ungratefully is to find ourselves in a hell of selfishness.
So on March fourth, let us march forth with gratitude and prayer!
Prayer: Thank you God, for the gift of prayer. Thank you for the blessings that we have, even in an economy that is deteriorating. Thank you that you hear our prayers and are able to answer them.

March 2- How Christ Fits Into Prayer

(Picture of Martin Bucer, who tried to mediate between Calvin and Luther and others)

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.” (I John 2:1)

“The ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Heb. 8:6)
“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13,14)

Since no man is worthy to present himself to God and come into his sight, the Heavenly Father himself, to free us at once from shame and fear, which might well have thrown our hearts into despair, has given us his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be our advocate [1 John 2:1] and mediator with him [1 Timothy 2:5; cf. Hebrews 8:6 and 9:15], by whose
guidance we may confidently come to him, and with such an intercessor, trusting nothing we ask in his name will be denied us, as nothing can be denied to him by the Father. And to this must be referred all that we previously taught about faith. For just as the promise commends Christ the Mediator to us, so, unless the hope of obtaining our requests depends upon him, it cuts itself off from the benefit of prayer.

God is totally holy, and we are sinful. We cannot approach God at all on our own. We need a mediator- a priest. Jesus Christ is the ultimate priest. He brings God and humans together, standing in the middle. He is the link between heaven and earth. Since He is God and human, it makes sense that He is the quintessential mediator.
When we pray in Christ’s name we are obeying him who said “if anyone asks anything in my name I will do it.” To pray in Christ’s name means to pray for his sake, not for ours. It is praying, “They will be done- not mine.” The old adage is we “pray to the Father in the Spirit in the name of the Son.” Yet there is a sense in which we pray directly to Christ (not to or through the saints in order to get to Christ). There is one mediator between God and man, and because that mediator is the God-man we may relate to Him.
For Calvin approaching God is like approaching an all powerful king, when we are but peasants. Yet, Christ’s mediating allows us to approach with confidence. Christ says, “Here is my friend, Father, please listen.” Hebrews 4:16,17 says that we have a great high priest…let us boldly approach the throne of grace with confidence that we may receive help in time of need.” This is an important concept in prayer. We approach God not by luck, but with faith. Not as a foreigner, but as a friend of a friend.
My son this week found out he didn’t get into his university of choice. We are appealing the decision, asking people who have influence with the university (who are friends of ours) to speak on his behalf. I don’t know if it will work, but it has given us all some measure of hope. As a stranger to the university staff, I have little hope in myself. But I have great hope in my friend. When we pray, we are going through our mediator, our friend who died for us. He is no stranger to the Father. So when we approach God we have hope.

Prayer- Thank you Lord, that we are not strangers, but friends of yours. Help us to grow in our love for you.

March 1- Prayer as Repentance

March 1- Prayer as Repentance
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion, blot out my transgression…Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” (Psalm 51)

Calvin: To this let us join a third rule: that anyone who stands before God to pray, in his humility giving glory completely to God, abandon all thought of his own glory, cast off all notion of his own worth, put away all self-assurance—lest if we claim for ourselves anything, even the least bit, we should become vainly puffed up, and perish at his presence. We have repeated examples of this submission, which levels all haughtiness, in God’s servants; each one of whom, the holier he is, the more he is cast down when he presents himself before the Lord. (IV. 20.8)

The first rule of prayer for the believer in Calvin’s opinion is to believe that prayer will be answered. For Calvin prayer is a miracle because “It is not within the power of man either to convert himself or to pray” (Comm. Jer. 29:12). For Calvin “Prayer is a response to the forgiving grace of God in Jesus Christ..the prayer of faith will thus be the prayer of self-abasement and humility as faith is inseparably linked to repentance” (Wallace 272,3). Prayer means a combination of two seemingly contrasting things- fear and hope. We are to come humbly and reverently out of respect to God as God alone. Yet we also come with assurance and confidence which is faith. Prayer is thus a combination of repentance and faith- humility and belief.
Calvin rightly points out that the holier we are- that is the closer we are to God- the more we recognize our need to be humble. Isaiah, in the presence of God said, "Woe to me for I am a person of unclean lips." We might add that the more humble we are, the more likely will it be for us to be able to discern the presence and hand of God in life. As we confess our sins, we are brought one measure closer to the holiness and presence of God. When we refuse to admit our failures, we are proud. Jesus said he came to heal the sick not the well. He said the one forgiven much loves much. He came to help the sinner not the righteous. All this would point to the need to pray humbly before God.
As a nation, we have been humbled. One commentator said yesterday on National Public Radio, for the first time since 1929 our gross national product is the same as our debt. Stocks this week tumbled to 12 year lows. This COULD be an opportunity to humble ourselves before God- if we will take it. In the Bible, often when the people were humbled they called out to God for help (the Book of Judges shows this seven times). The result has been that when the people called out, God helped them and rescued them from their trouble.
Practically speaking, we need to confess our sins to God. Confessing is not just saying things, but sincerely turning away from our sin. Too much prayer today is simply praising and asking. Praise is important. In some ways confessing our sins to God is praise to Him as well. For confession is humbling ourselves before Him as the one and only who can forgive us. Confession is a way to turn wrong into praise.

Prayer- Help us O God, to turn around and give ourselves anew to you today. Amen.

February 27- Calvin on MIssions

February 27- Calvin on Missions
Ezekial 18:20 The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
21 "But if the wicked turn away from all the sins they have committed and keep all my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
Calvin: God certainly desires nothing more than for those who are perishing and rushing toward death to return to the way of safety. This is why the gospel is today proclaimed throughout the world, for God wished to testify to all the ages that he is greatly inclined to pity. (Commentary Ezek. 18:23)
The meaning amounts to this, that by proclaiming the gospel everywhere, they should bring all nations to the obedience of the faith, and next, that they should seal and ratify their doctrine by the sign of the gospel. (Commentary on Mathew 28:19-23)

Philip E. Hughes said that Geneva under Calvin became a “school of missions” where people learned about the need and the procedure to be missionaries. Later Calvinits (JH Rice of Union) would say that the church is a “missionary society” whose goal is to reach others. Presbyterians have started more mission fields than any other Protestant denomination (M. Carpenter).
In 1561 Geneva sent out 151 ministers to areas without Protestant Reformed ministers. They were evangelists, missionaries. Reformed ministers were sent from Geneva to Brazil and to North America- South Carolina (Port Royal).
Calvin knew that God was concerned about all people, no matter what they looked like, or where they lived. Contrary to what some want Calvin to have done and believed, he did send out missionaries and did believe in evangelism. Some would argue if you really believe in predestination, then you don’t have to invite others to know Christ or send missionaries out to minister to those who have never heard. Predestination in part means that God has a purpose for everyone- a plan for everyone. Just because there is a plan and a purpose, that does not excuse our sitting on our hands and not obeying God. For Calvin we do the work of an evangelist and go into all the world because God commands it- and that is enough. But we should also know that God does not plan despite what we do, but he works through what we do. It is utter nonsense to think God planned the cross so Jesus didn’t have to get up on it. It makes no sense that because Jesus predicted and knew certainly that Jerusalem would fall (Matthew 24) that the Romans didn’t have to fight to take it. God’s plan includes our actions (or inaction).

Prayer: God, when we see the news of tragedies around the world, help us to pray for those people. Help us to grow in our desire to see other people know your love, grace, mercy, and kindness.

February 26- Calvin on World Vision

God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and human beings, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. (I Timothy 2:4,5)

Calvin: "there is no people and no rank in the world that is excluded from salvation; because God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception. [those people insult God] "who, by their opinion, shut out any person from the hope of salvation.(Commentary on I Timothy 2:4,5)

One of our church members said that he was playing golf with a Baptist minister, who asked him if “he was a Calvinist.” Then he said that Calvin’s idea of predestination made Calvin not believe in missions. This is a common belief, not because of anything Calvin taught, but because people don’t think that anyone who spoke of predestination- which is God’s choosing us before we were born- could possibly be concerned with presenting the gospel so people could respond. There is an interesting article on this by Ray VanNeste at http://www.founders.org/journal/fj33/article2.html
A. M. Hunter, in his book on Calvin's teaching, said, "Certainly he [Calvin] displayed no trace of missionary enthusiasm." Some have even said that Calvin's teaching on predestination necessarily destroyed evangelistic fervor; "we are all familiar with the scornful rationalization that facilely asserts that his horrible doctrine of divine election makes nonsense of all missionary and evangelistic activity." Others, however, have said: "One of the natural results of Calvin's perspective of predestination was an intensified zeal for evangelism."
Calvin believed that God does predestine people, but he uses our words to do it. Contrary to many, Calvin never saw predestination as an excuse for inaction. It was through our telling others of the good news of Christ that the elect responded to Christ and the non-elect do not.
In his commentary on I Timothy 2:4,5 Calvin was saying that everyone should hear the gospel- no matter how rich, how poor, whether they are close are far away. We should never pick and choose who should hear the good news of Christ. Only God elects, our job is to proclaim to all people. Later, as we shall see, Calvin sent out 88 missionaries to France alone. He wrote tons of letters to people in other countries to spread the good news. He sent two ministers from Geneva to Brazil to begin to spread the good news there among Huguenot colonists and the natives.
Frankly, we are too quick to say only certain kind of people should be invited to church by us, or invited to hear the good news of Christ. When I lived on the coast of South Carolina, twice a year there were huge motor bike rallies. Some ministers from our area were complaining about these people because they were noisy, some said some tough words to the natives, and drinking and drug abuse went up during that week. But there were a couple of ministers who spoke about their efforts of trying to reach these migrating groups. Some churches set up lemonade stands, and passed out tracts. One church hired their own evangelist to do work among them. Everyone who breathes needs Jesus. Whatever benefit I have received from Christ is that much more reason to tell another about him. John Calvin, I believe, would agree.

Prayer- Lord help us to see others as you see them. Help us to be concerned with other people, and to grow in love of neighbor as well as those far off or different from us. Amen.

FEBRUARY 25, 2009 Ash Wednesday

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father , who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Mt. 6:16-18
Calvin: At that time the superstitious observance of Lent had prevailed everywhere, because the common people thought that in it they were doing some exceptional service to God, and the pastors commended it as a holy imitation of Christ. On the contrary, it is plain that Christ did not fast to set an example for others, but to prove, in so beginning to proclaim the gospel, that it was no human doctrine but actually one sent from
heaven [ Matthew 4:2]. And the marvel is that such sheer hallucination (which is refuted so often and with such clear arguments) could creep upon men of keen judgment. (IV.12.20)

On this beginning of Lent it is important to recognize what Calvin was doing. He was speaking against the external show of piety without the heart. Calvin was not against Lent per se, but against the superstitious observance of Lent. Calvin was against the external fasting involved with the catholic observance of Lent, but was not against the idea of repentance. Zwingli in Zurich particularly despised the catholic meat eating regulations as being unbiblical. Calvin was not as boisterous as Zwingli, but he guarded against religious show, choosing instead simplicity.
So Calvinists in general today observe Lent, but emphasizing repentance and not fasting or external show. Calvin, by the way, was not against fasting. He said, “whenever men are to pray to God concerning any great matter, it would be expedient to appoint fasting with prayer” (IV.12.16). Calvin appeared to believe that fasting helps us to focus and persevere in prayer, and he sees it as a biblical practice. He points out, “if either pestilence, or famine, or war begins to rage, or if any disaster seems to threaten any district and people—then also it is the duty of the pastors to urge the church to fasting.” He also points out that Joel 2 calls the people to weeping, fasting, sackcloth and ashes.” But he also cautioned that the people are called to “rend their hearts and not their garments” (Joel 2).
If ever there was a time for crying out to God and for repentance for our country, it is now. We have been humbled. In our humility, I hope we will seek God and not desert Him. In the last ten years we have been unbelievably blessed with wealth. At the same time, there has been a dramatic forsaking of God- with believers (according to adherants.com) going from 86% to 75% (an 11% drop in ten years!). Leaders in the church rationalize this away saying it was jus a loss of nominal believers. That is almost like saying "'Peace, Peace' when there is no peace." It is time to come back to God, and Lent is a great opportunity to do so.


PRAYER: Lord, as Lent begins, help us to have our hearts right with you. Show us how we might deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow you. Teach us how to draw closer to you through prayer and repentance.

February 24- The Place of Good Works

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of hi m that you are in Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore as it is written- let those who boast, boast in the Lord. (I Corinthians 1:28-30)

Calvin’s Catechism:
M: What? Are men not justified by good works, when they study to approve themselves before God by holy and righteous living? A: If anyone could be found perfect to this degree, he might be reckoned just on merit. But since we are all sinners, guilty in many ways before God, we must seek elsewhere that worthiness which may reconcile us to him.
M: But are all men’s works so despicable and worthless that they are unable to obtain favor with God? A: First whatever works proceed from us as properly to be called our own are vicious; then further, they can do nothing but displease God and be rejected by him.
M: You say then that, before we are reborn and remade by the Spirit of God, we are able to do nothing but sin, just as the bad tree produces only bad fruit. A: Precisely so, For whatever appearance they may have in the eyes of men, they are nonetheless evil so long as the heart, to which God chiefly looks is depraved.
M: But when God has once embraced us, are not the works which we do at the direction of the Holy Spirit acceptable to him? A: They please him, but not by reason of their own merit, but as he liberally dignifies them with his favor..some defilement from the infirmity of the flesh is always mixed in them, by which they are vitiated.
M: But we do not therefore judge the good works of believers to be useless? A: By no means. For God does not in vain promise them reward both in this life and in the future. But this regard springs from the gratuitous love of God as source. For he first embraces us as sons, and then, burying the memory of the vices which proceed from us, he visits us with favor.

We are supposed to be good. Everyone knows that. But Protestants realized that we cannot be good enough to get to heaven- for we are not perfect (and heaven is a perfect place). For Luther we do good out of gratitude to God. Here Calvin says something different. God shows favor to us for the good we do- rewarding us on earth and in heaven. Certainly the Bible speaks in general terms that God rewards those who do good. For example, those who do not kill are less likely to have violence done to them. Those who are honest are less likely to get in trouble. We reap what we sew. It is also true that the world is a better, safer, kinder place when people are seeking to do good instead of seeking their own interests. Again, think of that Liberty Mutual commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMwoexR1evo).
Calvin believed in rewards in the next life too. Rewards for good deeds are not just for the here and now. But good is a way to store up treasure in heaven. However, the Bible does not speak of getting into heaven by being good. It may be hard to distinguish the difference. Perhaps it would be like getting into the theater free, but the best seats going to the nicest people.