Thine Is My Heart: Devotional Readings from the Writings of John Calvin Bible Text: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. —Isaiah 43:2 Devotional: "When thou shalt pass through the waters." By fire and water he means every kind of miseries to which we are liable in this life; for we must contend not with calamities of one kind only, but with infinitely diversified calamities. At one time we must pass through water and at another through fire (Psalm 66:12). In like manner the Apostle James exhorts believers not to faint when they "fall into various temptations" (James 1:2). And, indeed, faith needs to be put to the trial in many ways; for it often happens that he who has been victorious in one combat has been baffled by another kind of temptation. We are therefore tried by afflictions, but are at length delivered; we are baffled by the billows, but are not swallowed up; we are even scorched by the flames, but are not consumed. We have, indeed, the same feeling of pain as other men, but we are supported by the grace of God, and fortified by the spirit of patience, that we may not faint; and at length he will stretch out his hand and lift us up on high. —Commentaries
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:41:21 +0000
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