Judging Self Before Others

28 MAY

Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Habakkuk 2:6

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 119: 161-176

Not one of us wants to say the same thing about himself that he brings forward against others. For when a greedy man gathers things, whether right or wrong, or an ambitious man by unfair means advances himself, we instantly cry, "How long?" Though everyone is quick to say this about others, yet no one wants to say that about himself.

Let us therefore take heed that when we reprove injustice in others, we come without delay to ourselves and are impartial judges to our own actions and intent. Let us not be so blinded by self-love that we seek to absolve ourselves from the very faults that we freely condemn in others.

In general, people are more correct in their judgment of matters in which they are not involved, but when they consider matters in which they take part, they become blind. Honesty vanishes and all judgment is gone.

The prophet offers us this teaching based on the common feeling of nature, so that every one of us may restrain ourselves when we presume the office of a judge in condemning ourselves and restrain our desires when we find them advancing beyond just bounds.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

It is so easy to see the faults of others while remaining completely ignorant of our own. But ignorance is no excuse. We must diligently examine ourselves and our lives to dispel our ignorance and find any sin that has not been dealt with.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

The Beginning of Conversion

7 MAY

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Ezekiel 18:21-22

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Ephesians 2

If this humane invitation of God does not stir us, we have no excuse. For He bears witness that He is gracious to us when we heartily desire to be reconciled to Him. Still, He requires serious repentance.

A kind of half-conversion can be discerned in many who think they are safe before God if they can only bring forward something worthy of praise. But that is like a servant offering his matter muddy wine, which is mixed not only with dregs but also with filth. So are the works of those who do not put away all depraved desires and strive to free themselves from corruptions of the flesh.

Note what is taught here, that the beginning of conversion is to renounce oneself and one’s lust. To that must be added another part of duty, for when anyone bids farewell to his vices, he must also devote himself in obedience to God. The prophet here joins the two together, since one cannot be separated from the other. Hence the Spirit here shortly defines what true and legitimate conversion is. He says that when someone is converted, his life is prepared for God, since God will forget all his sins. This confirms the doctrine, for God cannot be entreated as long as He imputes our sins to us. Hence, we may deem Him gracious to us, for He promises that as soon as we truly repent, all our sins will be buried and no longer remembered.

The incomparable goodness of God is that He deigns to forget all our sin as soon as He sees us earnestly desirous of returning to Him.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

This text is excellent material for self-examination. If true conversion involves fleeing from or evil desires and corruptions and devoting ourselves obediently to God, it should be our regular practice to examine ourselves to make sure that, by God’s grace, we have indeed done these very things. Have you?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Examining Our Imperfections

Let us learn also to humble ourselves, seeing that the devil is trying to put us to sleep by hypocrisy in order that we may not recognize our faults, and that they may grow worse and worse. Let us then look within ourselves, and after we have examined our imperfections, let us cry before God, "Alas, Lord! Thou hast given me Thy grace to go forward in Thy service; I do my best, I strive, I resist all my passions, and I fight against myself; and yet I am not righteous before Thee, but there is much wrong with me still." That is how the faithful, after striving to the limit of their strength, ought always to retain this option when there remains any sinfulness mingled with the good which God enables them to do; they must learn to plead guilty before Him and to humble themselves, that they may receive grace.

But although we have many fantasies running in our heads from day to day, and thereby perceive that there is terrible corruption in our nature, yet we must not lose heart, but march on still, praying God that He Who has begun to give us progress will continue to set us forward and increase in us the strength of His Holy Spirit. And when the devil comes to incite us to evil, let him not succeed against us, but let us look for help from above; and let us pray that God's Spirit may so reign in our hearts that though there be wicked affections there, they may be so bridled and fettered that they should not toss us hither and thither but that we may stand steadfast, and be always ready to say, "It is good that god should govern us, and that we should follow His holy will.


John Calvin 
Sermons
Source: (Thine Is My Heart Devotional Readings From John Calvin: Reformation Heritage Books, 1958): 238