Thought for Today

Exodus 32:16 The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets.  

Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.  

Luke 4:21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."  

Acts 1:16 "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—

Recently I ordered a new book. Greta will confirm that is not a new phenomenon. I do like to read and I do buy a lot of books. When I first read about this book, I was intrigued by the title, Coffee with Calvin – Daily Devotion. It is no secret that I am a Calvinist. It is even less a secret that I drink a lot of coffee; so, two of my favorite topics combined. Then, as I read the description, I became doubtful, “These eighty-four practical devotions offer an accessible look into the enduring theology of John Calvin.”

Why would anyone ever write a book of daily devotionals with only 84 offerings!?! I almost did not buy the book for that reason. Then I realized the book offered me (365/84 = ) 4.345 times to consider each entry every year. My engineer’s mind was assuaged. Given the breadth and depth of Calvin’s writings, I’m certain I will never exhaust what I can glean from this new book.

John Calvin published his systematic theology in The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Originally published in French, they are available in English. The author of my new devotional, Donald K. McKim references the same translation I have in my own library, the one by Ford Lewis Battles.

When my new book arrived in the mail yesterday, I immediately devoured the very first devotional. I was delighted to find that the first devotional dealt with one of my favorite images in Calvin, lenses. The devotional author reflected on, “Just as old or bleary-eyed men and those with weak vision, if you thrust before them a most beautiful volume, even if they recognize it to be some sort of writing, yet can scarcely construe two words, but with the aid of spectacles will begin to read distinctly; so Scripture, gathering up the otherwise confused knowledge of God in our minds, having dispersed our dullness, clearly shows us the true God. (The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.6.1)

In seminary, my professor always spoke of those ‘spectacles’ in terms of the influence they exert over how we view our faith. Reading this first devotional, however, reminded me of Calvin’s application of this same analogy to the role of Scripture in our faith lives.

I began my journey toward ministry teaching a Bible Study at our church in Houston. Greta and I were part of a long-standing group of Bible students who studied and worshiped together for many years. We studied and discussed books of the Bible, learning from each other weekly. We had no fixed agenda, leisurely relishing each verse of each book we contemplated. If we could not fully explore the targeted verses on a given Sunday, we continued our explorations on succeeding Sundays until we could satisfy our thirsting minds.

I believe that the only way to deepen and expand our faith is through reading, studying and sharing the Bible. I have personally found that each time I read a verse, whether for the first, second or hundredth time, I find new meaning in and application for that verse.

For me, and potentially for all Christians, the Bible is the most timely and practical book we will ever read. The lessons we learn in the Bible apply to every aspect of our lives today equally as much as they applied when they were first written. For people of faith, our goal in life is to be in relationship with our Creator. The Bible is our window into the world of God, into Creation. It is also our window into expanding our relationship with God. Maybe most of all, the Bible is where we learn of the love of God. The love so complete that it includes God’s gift to us of God’s Son and our own salvation through our belief and faith in Jesus.

I am excited to see where my rereading and contemplation of this first devotional for the next 4.345 days (no, not really, not exactly . . . but for several more times) will take me. I do remain convinced that reading the Bible, studying the Bible and sharing the Bible with others, Christian or otherwise, is the best set of ‘spectacles’ with which I can come to more fully understand our Creator God, God’s love and my place in Creation.

Stay safe, read your Bible, trust God,

Pastor Ray

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