The brief snippet below blessed me in that it showcases what it means to live radically outside of our comfort zones in order to render pure, undefiled obedience to Christ, as exemplified in Calvin's life.
"Calvin knew whereof he spoke. There was a period of murkiness as he became an evangelical. There must have been a period of transition in Paris, an inward wrestling with whether or when to stop attending Mass. Whether and when to identify with the evangelicals. How? Where? At what cost? His public identification with the evangelical church in Geneva, his virtual imprisonment by Farel, being pressed into service in Geneva against his will, having been unceremoniously dismissed by the City Council and then recalled from a much more pleasant place–Calvin only wanted to study and write–these were all crosses he bore. He considered that living in Geneva was like being crucified 1000 times a day. He did it at the expense of his own health, his own happiness, his own peace of mind, against his better judgment and personal inclinations, because his Savior did it for him." (emphasis mine)
- R. Scott Clark, To the Evangelical Nicodemites, Part 4
Nice post. I'll remember this next time I'm stuck in traffic on a hot day :)
ReplyDeleteKev, if Geneva was 1000X for Calvin, how many times is Manila for you? :-D
ReplyDeleteIt's humbling to hear things like this, and then consider the life of (relative) ease so many of us in the U.S. live - free from the really tough decisions, free from persecution (for the most part), free from want. Kind of pitiful, really!
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