Daily Devotion

“Finally, since as God only he could not suffer, and as man only could not overcome death, he united the human nature with the divine, that he might subject the weakness of the one to death as an expiation of sin, and by the power of the other, maintaining a struggle with death, might gain us the victory. Those, therefore, who rob Christ of divinity or humanity either detract from his majesty and glory, or obscure his goodness.”

John Calvin · Institutes of the Christian Religion, II.12.3 (tr. Henry Beveridge)

Scripture

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father.

Reflection

Calvin reminded me that salvation is not an abstract doctrine, but a grace that concretely enters into the human condition. The Gospel of John says, "The Word became flesh," revealing that God has not departed from the world, but dwells with us in our weaknesses. Christ is both the true God, bringing the power of salvation, and the true person, compassionate towards our pain and struggles. When I only desired power while escaping from real life, I forgot that God reveals His glory to me precisely in the everyday, in humility, and in brokenness.