While rummaging back through various papers this evening looking for notes for some teaching tomorrow, I came across this quote sent to me by a pastor friend 8 years ago. He had mentioned it in a sermon and i had asked for it. It comes from T. H. L. Parker’s book on Calvin’s preaching, and, as I understand it, is a quote from Calvin:

“It would be better for him to break his neck going up into the pulpit if he does not take pains to be the first to follow God.”

This quote grabs me as it did then as a good reminder of being earnest about living out ourselves what we preach to others. Let us be faithful in this as we enter pulpits in the morning.