The Kingdom, Personal Ministry, and My Heart

I am really enjoying reading Paul D. Tripp's book Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands. As the subtitle indicates, it will help both those who need change in their own lives and those who want to help others change--and, as it just so happens, all believers fit into both of these categories.

Here is a great selection that I read yesterday:

"Why are we so good at turning moments of ministry into moments of anger? Why are we so adept at personalizing what is not personal? Why does it seem that people, things, and situations are in our way? Why do we seldom go through a day without some experience of conflict? The answer to all of these questions is that we think of our lives as our own, and we are more committed to the purposes of our own kingdom than we are to God's. We need to recognize that the people in our way have been sent to us by a wise and sovereign King. He never gets a wrong address and always chooses just the right moment to expose our hearts and realign them to his." (p.107)

Thanks, PDT, for holding the mirror of the Word up to my face.