Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.
7/30- I John 3:23-24
23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 Those who keep his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Calvin abridged: 3:23- “this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” The discord between us and God is great that we are kept from accessing God except when we are united by love to one another. He does not just commend love alone, but adds the companion of faith. Some distort this as if prayer were dependent on faith and love (and love as a work we do on our own). But John is not speaking of our worthiness to pray. John is only showing that God doesn’t grant anyone a relationship with him but his children who are regenerated by his Spirit. Faith and love are joined together in the singular word “commandment.” They cannot be separated. “On the name of his Son.” The only right faith is that which embraces Christ as he is portrayed in the Gospel. So there is no faith without teaching (Rom. 10:14). The Apostle includes faith in the knowledge of Christ; for he is the living image of the Father, and in him are laid up all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
3:24- “Those who keep his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” The union we have with God is evident when we entertain mutual love. God does not abide in us, except his Spirit dwells in us. The Spirit shows his power and efficiency. No one abides in God who does not keep his commandments. John here speaks of the effects which the Spirit produces while dwelling in us. Paul does this too when he says that those led by the Spirit of God are God’s children. He is speaking of dying to the flesh and living to God. In sum he is saying that we are God’s children when he rules in our life. Whatever good works are done by us, come from the grace of the Spirit, and that the Spirit is not obtained by our righteousness, but is freely given to us.
Thought: Assurance does not come from going good. Assurance comes by God’s gracious Spirit. Love is a way that we show our faith is real. Love shows itself most not in the even times but in the really good times or the really bad times. In a poor economy, we are tested, even more than if we had never had prosperity. It is a hard adjustment to give up the things of the world- but we all must. Tomorrow 7/31 I am going with some of my church folk to Iquitos Peru- a place that is among the poorest in the world. They do not even have clean water there though they are surrounded by the Amazon. We’ll be doing site prep work for a water filtration system. I think the people there may have a shorter but more content life. I am always thinking of what I don’t have, or what I may not have. Few of those in Iquitos are worried about educating their children in college, or making the car payment. Blessings bring worry. Perhaps it is easier to enjoy life and love others when we let go of the things in the world. The main thing is not how much of the world do we have or not have, but how much of God is in us, and how much of us is dwelling in God. He is in us as the air, and we are in him as we are in the atmosphere. This is part of our union or adoption into Christ.
Prayer: Lord, let me unclench my hand that I may extend it in love to another today.
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