Calvin Had Other Plans
Theme of the Week: Sacrifice or Safety?
William & Randy Petersen
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
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Key Bible Verses: Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time, "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message of judgment I have given you" ( Jonah 3:1–2). Bonus Reading:2 Timothy 1:7–8
Studious John Calvin suffered from migraines and asthma. After his conversion at age 24, he and some new Protestant friends fled Paris as fugitives from Catholic authorities. On the run for a year, he relocated to Basel, Switzerland, under an assumed name. There, he wrote his Institutes.
But then, Calvin said, "God thrust me into the game." When he was traveling through Geneva, Protestant leader William Farel insisted that he stay. Calvin had other plans. "If you don't help us," Farel declared, "the Lord will punish you for seeking your own interests rather than His." Calvin stayed.
Two turbulent years later, he and Farel were expelled from Geneva. Calvin returned to Basel. But then a Martin Bucer urged him to pastor French refugees in Strasbourg, Germany. Calvin wanted to run the other way, but Bucer said, "God will know how to find you, just as he found Jonah, another rebellious servant." Calvin went.
When a delegation from Geneva asked him to move back, Calvin confessed, "There's no place I'm more afraid of." Yet he returned to minister to the 6,000 Protestant refugees pouring in.
—William & Randy Petersen in 100 Bible Verses that Changed the World
My Response: How might radical obedience push me out of my comfort zone?
Thought to Apply: I offer my heart a slain victim for a sacrifice to the Lord. —John Calvin (when he returned to Geneva)
Adapted from 100 Bible Verses that Changed the World (Revell, 2001) by permission.
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Lord Jesus, You've called me to shoulder my cross and follow You. Give me the guts to do it.
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