Imaginary Worlds and Christian Priorities in Personal Devotions
Christian Priorities in Personal Devotions
In Christian devotional life, priorities are set by focusing on God and heavenly things. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, affections should be "supremely set upon God" and "upon heavenly things" [1]. This focus is rooted in biblical teachings, such as Jesus' command to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) [1]. The Psalmist also expresses a desire to have their prayer and actions pleasing to God, likening their evening prayer to a sacrifice (Psalm 140:2) [2].
The apostle Paul encourages believers to "be turned to the more important things given by the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:31) [3]. This emphasis on prioritizing spiritual matters is echoed in Reformed theology. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, stresses the importance of laying aside carnal thoughts and cares to focus on prayer and contemplation of God [6]. Calvin also notes that believers should be "truly and thoroughly devoted to his service" and that their prayers should be guided by a zeal for God's glory [8].
In personal devotions, Christians are encouraged to seek a deeper connection with God, accessing Him through Christ (Ephesians 1:5; 2:19) [7, 4]. The privileges of saints, including abiding in Christ and partaking of the divine nature, are seen as essential aspects of the Christian life [4]. The favor of God is also a key theme, with believers encouraged to seek and trust in His favor for spiritual life, wisdom, and preservation [5].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by Charles Hodge, distinguishes between mysticism and the doctrine of spiritual guidance, emphasizing that true spiritual illumination comes from the Word dwelling in believers "in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Colossians 1:9) [11]. In contrast, mysticism is characterized by subjective imaginings rather than divine guidance.
In practice, this means that Christians should prioritize their relationship with God, seeking to be led by the Spirit and guided by Scripture. As Matthew Henry notes, the design of Christ's doctrine is to engage and quicken believers to the practice of Christian duties, including beneficence and doing good to others (Luke 16:1) [9]. By focusing on God and heavenly things, believers can cultivate a deeper sense of devotion and service.
The biblical emphasis on prioritizing God and spiritual matters is thus reflected in Reformed theology and practice, shaping Christian priorities in personal devotions. As Calvin observes, believers who trust in God can look beyond earthly concerns to greater gifts, including salvation and eternal life [10].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Psalms “Dirigatur oratio mea sicut incensum in conspectu tuo ; elevatio manuum mearum sacrificium vespertinum. -- Psalms 140:2”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 12:31 (BBE) — But let your desires be turned to the more important things given by the Spirit. And now I am pointing out to you an even better way.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Privileges of Saints — Abiding in Christ -- Joh 15:4,5. Partaking of the divine nature -- 2Pe 1:4. Access to God by Christ -- Eph 3:12. Being of the household of God -- Eph 2:19. Membership with the Church of the first-born -- Heb 12:23. Having Christ for their Shepherd. -- Isa 40:11; Joh 10:14,16. Christ for their intercessor. -- Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1Jo 2:1. The promises of God. -- 2Co 7:1; 2Pe 1:4. The possession of all things -- 1Co 3:21,22. All things working together for their good -- Ro 8:28; 2Co 4:15-17. Their names written in the book life -- Re 13:8; 20:15. H”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Favour of God, The — Christ the special object of -- Lu 2:52. Is the source of Mercy. -- Isa 60:10. Spiritual life. -- Ps 30:5. Spiritual wisdom leads to -- Pr 8:35. Mercy and truth lead to -- Pr 3:3,4. Saints Obtain. -- Pr 12:2. Encompassed by. -- Ps 5:12. Strengthened by. -- Ps 30:7. Victorious through. -- Ps 44:3. Preserved through. -- Job 10:12. Exalted in. -- Ps 89:17. Sometimes tempted to doubt. -- Ps 77:7. Domestic blessings traced to -- Pr 18:22. Disappointment of enemies an assured evidence of -- Ps 41:11. Given in answer to prayer -- Job 33:26. Pray for -- ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: framed as becomes those who are entering into converse with God. This we shall accomplish in regard to the mind, if, laying aside carnal thoughts and cares which might interfere with the direct and pure contemplation of God, it not only be wholly intent on prayer, but also, as far as possible, be borne and raised above itself. I do not here insist on a mind so disengaged as to feel none of the gnawings of anxiety; on the contrary, it is by much anxiety that the fervor of prayer is inflamed. Thus we see that the holy servants of God”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:5: predestinated--more special in respect to the end and precise means, than "chosen" or elected. We are "chosen" out of the rest of the world; "predestinated" to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:29). "Foreordained." by Jesus--Greek, "through Jesus." to himself--the Father (Col 1:20). ALFORD explains, "adoption . . . into Himself," that is, so that we should be partakers of the divine nature (Pe2 1:4). LACHMANN reads, "unto Him." The context favors the explanation of CALVIN: God has regard to Himself and the glory of Hi”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: him as our Lord and Father, and truly and thoroughly devoted to his service. Hence if men, in praying that the name of God may be hallowed, that his kingdom may come, and his will be done, are not influenced by this zeal for the promotion of his glory, they are not to be accounted among the servants and children of God; and as all these things will take place against their will, so they will turn out to their confusion and destruction. 44. Now comes the second part of the prayer, in which we descend to our own interests, not, indee”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:1: We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here pressing us to, by reminding us that we are but stewards of the manifold grace ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: whenever their hands are not filled with corn, and wine, and oil, so much more value do we set on this shadowy, fleeting life, than on a blessed immortality. But those who, trusting to God, have once cast away that anxiety about the flesh, immediately look to him for greater gifts, even salvation and eternal life. It is no slight exercise of faith, therefore, to hope in God for things which would otherwise give us so much concern; nor have we made little progress when we get quit of this unbelief, which cleaves, as it were, to our ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 24: The effect of spiritual illumination is, that the Word dwells in us “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” ( Col. i. 9 ). What dwells in the mind of the Mystic are his own imaginings, the character of which depends on his own subjective state; and whatever they are, they are of man and not of God. It differs from the Doctrine of the “ Leading of the Spirit .” Neither is Mysticism to be confounded with the doctrine of spiritual guidance. Evangelical Christians admit that the children of God are led by the Spirit of God; that their con”