Distinguishing the Truth

20 MAY

Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. Micah 3:9

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: John 16: 12-16

God’s servants ought to courageously break through those obstacles that Satan uses either to delay or to force them backward. In addition, the godly ought to wisely distinguish between the faithful servants of God and impostors who falsely pretend his name. Then no one who wants truly and from the heart to obey God will be deceived, for the Lord give him the spirit of judgment and discrimination.

The reason why many miserable souls today are led to endless ruin is because they either shut their eyes or willfully involve themselves in such subterfuges as the following: “I cannot form any judgment, for I see on both sides learned and celebrated men, who are in some repute and esteemed. Some call me to the right hand and others to the left. So where am I to go? I therefore prefer to close my mouth and my ears.” Seeking a cloak for their sloth, many thus manifest their ignorance, for we see that the eyes of the godly will be opened when the Lord exercises and tries their faith.

God allows discords and contentions to rise in the church so that some may choose one way and others another way. Though God relaxes the reins of Satan so that contests and turmoil of all kinds may arise in the church, it is no excuse for us not to follow what the Lord prescribes, for God will always guide by His Spirit, provided we do not foster our own sloth.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

In our day, indecision has become endemic. What is more, we have developed philosophies to justify our indecision. If some think one way and others another, we justify taking no position by saying the truth too hard to discern. But God has not left is to stumble around in such uncertainty; He has given us His sure Word and His Holy Spirit. We can know the truth, and we must daily strive to find it.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Strengthened by the Spirit

19 MAY

But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel sin sin. Micah 3:8

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Zechariah 4

Micah with incredible courage stands alone against the false teachers of his time. This confidence is something all God’s servants should possess so they might not succumb to the empty and vain boastings of those who subvert the order of the church.

At times, God permits His pure truth to be corrupted by false teachers, who become popular among those high in honor as well as the multitude. Let us then remember the striking example of Micah lest we be discouraged and lest the firmness and invincible power of the Holy Spirit be weakened in our hearts. We may then proceed in the course of our calling to defend the name of God against all the deceptions of men, if indeed we are convinced that our service is approved by God.

Micah shows here that he was not supplied with ordinary or usual power. As God employs the labors of His servants, so He is present with them and furnishes them with suitable protection. When  someone does not encounter great difficulties in discharging the office of teaching, only a common measure of the Spirit is necessary for the performance of his duties. But when someone is drawn into arduous and difficult struggles in serving the Lord, he is especially strengthened by the Lord.

We seedaily examples of this, for many simple men who have never been trained up in learning have been so endued by the celestial Spirit that when they experienced great trials, they closed the mouths of great doctors who seemed to understand all oracles. By such evidences God proves that He is the same today as when He formerly endowed His servant Micah with a power that was so rare and so extraordinary.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

The Lord grants sufficient grace to His children. We should not fear those dreaded possibilities that loom in front of us. If, like Micah, we face extraordinary trials and duties, we will be granted an extraordinary measure of the Spirit’s power. The Lord will always give His children what they need to do His will.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Discouraged by Satan's Intrigues

17 MAY

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shll surely be led away captive out of their own land. Amos 7:10-11

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Luke 7: 31-35

We must be watchful, not only against the open violence and cruelty of enemies, but also against their intrigues, for as Satan is a murderer, and has been so from the beginning, so he is also the father of lies. Whosoever then strenuously and constantly wishes to work for the church and for God must prepare for a contest with evil. He must resist all fears and all intrigues.

I have not said without reason that God's servants ought to be prepared against the fear of death. They must remain intrepid, though they die, and lay down their necks, if need be, while performing their office, to seal their doctrine in their own blood. On the other hand, they should be prudent, for the enemies of the truth will often assail them by flatteries. Our experiences today sufficiently prove this.

More danger, I know, has risen when enemies attempt to terrify us by such objections as: "What is your purpose for doing this? The whole world must necessarily at length be consumed by calamities. Why do you seek that religion should flourish everywhere, sound learning should be valued, and peace should prevail? The fiercest war is at hand. Once it arises, all places will be full of calamities. Savage barbarity and cruelty will follow, and religion will perish. You will cause all of this by your persistence."

These things have often been said to us. When we read this passage, we ought to notice the methods by which Satan tries to undermine the efforts of the godly and the constancy of God's servants.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: 

Amos's example teaches us that we should not be surprised when we are misrepresented. With the mass media surrounding us, the possibility of intrigue and calamity is greater today than ever before. Satan easily can, and does, use these means to cast continual doubt upon the gospel and those who profess it.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Whom Shall I Fear?

14 FEBRUARY

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psalm 27:1

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 8:31-39

All our fears arise from this source: we are too anxious about our life and fail to acknowledge that God is our preserver. We can have no tranquility until we are persuaded that our life is sufficiently protected by God's omnipotent power.

Let us learn to value God's power to protect us so that all our fears are put to flight. Because of the infirmity of the flesh, the minds of the faithful cannot at all times be entirely devoid of fear. But let us immediately recover courage, and, from the high tower of our confidence, look down upon all our dangers with contempt. Those who have never tasted the grace of God tremble because they refuse to rely on Him. They imagine that He is often incensed against them or at least far removed from them. But with the promises of God before our eyes and the grace that they offer, our unbelief grievously wrongs God if we do not with shrinking courage boldly set Him against all our enemies.

God kindly allures us to Himself and assures us that He will take care of our safety. When we embrace His promises and believe Him to be faithful, we should also highly extol His power so that our hearts are ravished with admiration of Himself. We must mark well this comparison: what are all creatures to God, and how does He protect them? Moreover, we must further extend this confidence to banish all fears from our consciences. Like Paul, we can then speak of our eternal salvation by boldly exclaiming, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: When an affliction or danger provokes anxious fear in us, what does that say about our trust in God? How can we daily trust in God as our preserver so that fears do not overwhelm us?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Fearing No Evil

11 FEBRUARY

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Daniel 3

Even in prosperity, David did not forget that he was a man but meditated on the adversities that might come upon him. Certainly, the reason why we are so terrified when God exercises us with the cross, is because every man by nature, in order that he may sleep soundly and undisturbed, has wrapped himself in carnal security.

But there is a great difference between the sleep of stupidity and the repose that faith produces. Since God tries our faith by adversity, it follows that no one truly confides in God but he who is armed with invincible constancy for resisting the fears with which he may be assailed. David did not say that he was devoid of all fears but only that he would surmount fear no matter where his Shepherd would lead him. 

This appears more clearly from the context. In the first place David says, I will fear no evil. Immediately after that he adds the reason for this. He openly acknowledges that he seeks a remedy against his fear in contemplating and having his eyes fixed on the staff of his Shepherd: For Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. What need would he have of such consolation if he had not been disquieted and agitated by fear?

Therefore, we should keep in mind that, when David reflects on the adversities that might befall him, he becomes victorious over fear and temptations be casting himself on the protection of God. 

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: It was the Lord's strength and protection that delivered David from captivity to fear, not his own. If the evils you are facing have revealed your own weaknesses, do not despair. Trust the Lord to protect you and deliver you from fear.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited By Joel R. Beeke

Should Such A Man As I Flee?

Nehemiah was engaged in a great work: his God was with him, and gave him success: friends and enemies united against him; by base insinuation, craft and stratagem, they strove to dishearten and deter him from going on with God's work. Opposition is the Christian's lot; courage his honor; perseverance his jewel. Look at this man of God: he boldly repels all fear. Instead of fleeing from his work as advised, he flees to his God, and cries, "O God, strengthen my hands." Faith inspires prayer: prayer brings courage to the heart: then he boldly demands, Should such a man as I flee? A man so greatly favored, so highly honored, as to be employed by God to work for Him? No; I disdain such mean cowardice: I will work on: it is God's cause: let Him order the event; I fear it not.

Christian, know your calling: it is to work for God: expect opposition from within and without. This may call up fear and dismay; but consider your dignity; maintain and assert it: "Should such a man as I flee?" A man called by the grace of Jesus to resist the devil, to face carnal men, to vanquish sin,  to overcome the world, to obtain victory over death, and to receive a crown of righteousness in endless glory: shall I flee? What, I who am called to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus? O my soul, put on Christ and put off fear: put up prayer and put down dread.

From whom should such a man as I flee? Of whom should I be afraid? Doth not my Lord say, "My grace is sufficient for thee, My strength is made perfect in thy weakness?" O Lord, strengthen my heart to resist Satan, that he may flee from me, and to overcome the fear of man, which is a snare to me. I bless Thee for Thy precious word: strengthen my heart in the faith of it: "Fear not, neither be faint-hearted." Isa. 7:4. "Hearken unto Me; fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings." Isa. 51:7. "I, even am He who comforteth you. Who art thou that thou shouldst me afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be made as grass, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker?" "The Lord God will help me: I shall not be confounded: I have set my face like a flint: I shall not be ashamed: the moth shall eat up my adversaries.: Isa. 50:7.


William Mason
A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, pp. 381-382