"For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you"
I attended the first Desiring God conference session yesterday, and while there are so many things that I learned, and so many things that had a tremendous impact on me I wanted to highlight this one. John Macarthur, a pastor I have a deep respect for, said that one key to a successful ministry is a commitment of personal holiness. He said, and I agree because I can absolutely see how, that allowing a secret sin in your life will destroy you eventually. He said the one defense Paul had against the claims against him by the church in Corinth was a clear conscience. If God has called me to ministry, I can't imagine trying to do anything to impact the kingdom for Christ if I myself have an inner, secret sin that consumes me. I believe that if an individual is committed to this wonderful, saving Gospel, Satan and his demons will do what they can to thwart the impact of whatever that person says, and if we ignore our conscience, and allow a secret sin to consume us from the inside out, we're headed for a ridiculously rude awakening.
For this reason, I am on my face before this Holy God, begging him for mercy daily. I don't see how anyone lives any other way. I wouldn't want to live any other way. This God is so full of grace and mercy, that we tend to forget that every breath we take is an undeserved gift from our Sovereign Lord. I certainly wouldn't say I mope around because of my unworthiness and sinfulness, I don't think that's Biblical at all, but I do know there is no greater joy for me than to bask in the awesome glory and sovereign, saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"In Him was light, and the light was the light of men..."
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