January 3
I Corinthians 6:19, 20 (TNIV) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Perhaps- in my mind the most inspiring and moving quote of Calvin is found in the Institutes III.7.1 in part a commentary on the scripture above: We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are Gods: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal.
Even our bodies are to glorify God. We have been bought with a price- so take care of all that God has given you- body, mind, and soul. Calvin lived this out. He spoke out for the new thinking of Protestantism and had to leave his studies and an assured comfortable lifestyle into exile the rest of his life. People accused Calvin of getting rich, but when he died he only had about $225 worth of stuff, and made sure he was buried in an unmarked grave. He died when he was 55 of all the pressures of life on him (though some say the average male lived until they were 40 then). Certainly, he did not seek his own comfort. He preached over 2,000 sermons, wrote commentaries on all but a few books of the Bible, defended and led the whole French-speaking Protestant movement. He did something with his life- because he believed he was to glorify God with the time and talents God had given him. To me, that is inspirational.
I hope we all can seek to honor the one who made us in 2009.
I Corinthians 6:19, 20 (TNIV) 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Perhaps- in my mind the most inspiring and moving quote of Calvin is found in the Institutes III.7.1 in part a commentary on the scripture above: We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds. We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours. Conversely, we are God’s: let us therefore live for him and die for him. We are God’s: let his wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions. We are Gods: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward him as our only lawful goal.
Even our bodies are to glorify God. We have been bought with a price- so take care of all that God has given you- body, mind, and soul. Calvin lived this out. He spoke out for the new thinking of Protestantism and had to leave his studies and an assured comfortable lifestyle into exile the rest of his life. People accused Calvin of getting rich, but when he died he only had about $225 worth of stuff, and made sure he was buried in an unmarked grave. He died when he was 55 of all the pressures of life on him (though some say the average male lived until they were 40 then). Certainly, he did not seek his own comfort. He preached over 2,000 sermons, wrote commentaries on all but a few books of the Bible, defended and led the whole French-speaking Protestant movement. He did something with his life- because he believed he was to glorify God with the time and talents God had given him. To me, that is inspirational.
I hope we all can seek to honor the one who made us in 2009.
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