Book Club ~ Institutes of the Christian Religion

It's such a beautiful, autumn day in Charlotte, North Carolina. And I've been thoroughly enjoying it. I've spent the past several hours with Calvin right next to my open bedroom window. The breeze was blowing in and the sun is shining. I had my water bottle full of water with no ice and a pencil to mark "all the best stuff." And now, Book Two of the Institutes is done! It has been wonderful to spend the whole afternoon reading about how completely all-sufficient my Savior is. Basking in the sunlight and the Son of Righteousness!

A very dear friend of mine gave me this analogy: (maybe this is common and I've just never thought about it this way before so bare with me if I'm treading over old ground) but she said that life is like lookin' into a mirror. When we look into a mirror we can see ourselves and we can see whatever's around us. But the less we see of ourselves in the mirror the more we can see what's surrounding us. So, in our lives we want to see less and less of ourselves and all our sinfulness in our mirrors and more and more of our Savior so that He's all we can see...He's all that surrounds us. This afternoon was a wonderful way to start the week: seeing so much less of myself and much much more of the Savior.

And of course, you need a quote from this book of the Institutes, right? Of course you do! I love this quote and it ties in with contentment, also. I hope it proves a blessing to you:

“The happiness promised us in Christ does not consist in outward advantages—such as leading a joyous and peaceful life, having rich possessions, being safe from all harm, and abounding with delights such as the flesh commonly longs after. No, our happiness belongs to the heavenly life.

Christ enriches his people with all things necessary for the eternal salvation of souls and fortifies them with courage to stand unconquerable against all the assaults of spiritual enemies. From this we infer that he rules—inwardly and outwardly—more for our own sake than his.

Thus it is that we may patiently pass through this life with its misery, hunger, cold, contempt, reproaches, and other troubles—content with this one thing: that our King will never leave us destitute, but will provide for our needs until, our warfare ended, we are called to triumph.”

What a wonderful way to begin the work-week: being reminded that all our joy is in the Savior! I hope you are all enjoying your Monday.

Glorifying and enjoying Him forever,

Miss Blair