It’s good to have our returning students back and to welcome new students to Covenant this fall! After a few weeks of quiet at the  beginning of the month, this is a welcome change.

For the first time, we had a chapel service at both 10 am and 11 am this morning. We will maintain this schedule throughout the year on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It’s a big change in how we’ve done things at Covenant, but the first day went well both logistically and otherwise. President Niel Nielson spoke to start the year off, and he encouraged us from Titus to ground our faith and practice in an understanding of grace.

Using Titus 2:11-14, he talked about what Jesus did, what Jesus is doing, and what Jesus will do. Jesus appeared and called people everywhere to follow him. Then, right now, Jesus is by His grace equipping, training, fitting us to say “No” to the things that destroy and to say “Yes” to the things are a right and good. He encouraged us to put on Christ in our daily life, as we interact with each other and as we are alone. This ability to say No and ability to walk in an upright manner are only possible through the grace of Christ. Finally, we by grace live in the hope of what Jesus will do. He will come again. Grace will appear most fully when our Saviour returns. Until then, grace enables us to have discerning hearts and minds as we live in community.

A few things I thought about as Dr. Nielson spoke:

1. Am I more likely to fall into legalism or license in areas of my life? Do I sometimes enjoy have a spiritual checklist that I think will give me favor with God? Or do I flee from that idea so far that I lack true godly discipline?

2. How is my saying “yes” or saying “no” affecting those around me in profound ways?