Using Classic Theological Works for Devotions

One of the items on my bucket list is to read The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. Given that it’s more than 1,000 pages, the chances of that happening weren’t all the likely until I decided to begin using it during my morning devotions a year or so ago.

His work is divided into small sections and I can easily read two sections each morning in under ten minutes. Even though he wrote his treatise some 500 years ago, his understanding of the human condition still causes my thoughts to turn toward Christ and his mercy.

Here is one such nugget from the book early on, in a section called “The Knowledge of God and of Ourselves Connected”:

Our feeling of ignorance, vanity, want, weakness, in short, depravity and corruption, reminds us, that in the Lord, and none but he, dwell the true light of wisdom, solid virtue, exuberant goodness. We are accordingly urged by our own evil things to consider the good things of God; and, indeed, we cannot aspire to him in earnest until we have begun to be displeased with ourselves.

Such thoughts prompt me to dig deeper into my own ignorance, vanity, want and weakness – in short, depravity and corruption.

Another classic theological work I plan to work my way through during my morning devotions is Table Talk by Martin Luther. It too is broken down into small sections that will work perfectly for devotions.

Have you ever considered, or are you currently using a classic theological work during your devotional time? You can receive many of them free, or at nominal cost, if you own a Kindle. Just jump over to the Amazon.com Kindle page and search for your favorite classic author. I just did a search for Martin Luther and these titles are free for the Kindle:

Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
Works of Martin Luther with Introductions and Notes
Concerning Christian Liberty
A Treatise on Good Works