I am a graduate of Covenant Seminary, and receive the institution's quarterly magazine, Covenant. The latest issue defines the school's reason for being, saying, "The purpose of Covenant Theological Seminary is to glorify the triune God by training his servants to WALK in God's grace, MINISTER God's Word, and EQUIP God's people—all for God's MISSION." I really needed to hear that today. Especially the first part about walking.

As a pastor of fifteen plus years, I realize that I have jumped the gun so to speak by focusing my calling on MINISTERING God's Word and EQUIPPING God's people for God's MISSION. What did I leave out? The most important and essential part of the pastoral process! My first calling is my own heart. My own spiritual vitality. I must make it the priority of my life and ministry to live in a conscious awareness of God's all-consuming grace—to find my identity and ability in the God who uses the foolish, broken and needy to accomplish his will. My sense of self must NOT be in my pastoral role, but simply in being a forgiven, accepted, beloved, adopted and treasured son. Of course that strikes at the heart of my flesh's favorite idol, which is "the glorification of me" through ministerial success. 

So today, I'd like to die to my own craving and pursuit of that success and find my joy, hope and glory in the victory over my idolatry through the propitiatory work of Jesus via the cross. I need to hear Romans 3:20-25a:

 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.  21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25aGod presented him as a sacrifice of atonement [i.e., propitiation], through faith in his blood.

If you are a friend of Creekstone, would you pray that I would WALK in these verses today, tomorrow, and every day? That I would believe them and savor them. Only then will I genuinely be effective at MINISTERING this gospel and EQUIPPING us for MISSION. Thanks.