So when I renounce the pursuit of professionalism, does that mean I don’t aspire to excellence? No. But I do start my quest for excellence with the quest for excellent forgiveness. Excellent mercy. Excellent patience. Excellent kindness. Excellent humility. Excellent self-control. Excellent gospel-walking (Galatians 2:14).
That’s what Paul had in mind when he told us to imitate the infinitely excellent God. “Be imitators of God… And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:1–2). I don’t know if Jesus could sing on key, or if his tunic was wrinkle-free, but I do know his capacities for returning good for evil were beautiful beyond words. The radical quest for that excellence is where we begin.
Daniel L. Akin, Thabiti Anyabwile, et al., Still Not Professionals: Ten Pleas for Today’s Pastors (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2013).
No comments:
Post a Comment