Imagine if the Creator had become bored or weary and decided that instead of making the universe all 'very good,' (Genesis 1:31) He had settled for good enough! We observe that God went for design that is wondrous, full of beauty, and marked by excellence. Since this is how our God chose to prepare the world for us, isn't it sad then that so many choose to serve Him with mediocrity? Might this be because we are more committed to our kids' education, passionate about our sports, fanatic about our football team - than we are dedicated to the God we say that we love and serve with our whole heart?
In the Old Testament stories, excellence stands out again and again as a trait God commends.
Joseph was not only faithful through the years that he waited for the plans of God to take him from the prison to the palace. He also worked hard to do his best in every situation.
Daniel was taken from Jerusalem to serve an oppressor king in Babylonia as a slave. Did he slack and look for the easy way? Read the book. Here's how his reputation is summed up: "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." (Daniel 6:3, NIV)
We try to create a climate of excellence throughout our local congregation because God is worthy of our best efforts, not our leftovers! Here are a few examples.. and I could add more.
-I never approach the pulpit without extensive preparation of my mind and heart through prayer and study. God is listening to what I say and will hold me accountable on that Day for how I 'handled the Word of Truth.'
-Our grounds team mows the grass and tends the landscape with an eye towards honoring the Lord with a neat lawn!
-Our Christian School maintains high standards, not just to please parents. The team members there know that it is the Lord they serve, first and foremost. It shows!
-Our praise and worship team is devoted with a capital "D." They are on site early on Sunday morning, preparing themselves to lead us to worship of our God. They rehearse timing and strive for the right tone - why? Because they want to look good? Not so much. They know that what they do reflects on God, that if they fumble their way through a service with missed notes and bad timing, that many people will be distracted from focusing on the Lord. Our church is so accustomed to their high level of excellence, both musically and in the Spirit, that we often take it for granted!
How do you love Jesus Christ?
Are you just content to say, "that's good enough?" or are you ready to do your best?
Does God get the first and best of your life, or is He relegated to time, energy, and resources that are leftover when you've done the things you want to do? Consider that, disciple. Don't be one of those Christians who is content to just get by.
In the book of Malachi, there is a record of some priests who offered cheap offerings, who used inferior sacrifices. In response God said,
"A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! "But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?' "You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.
"Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices?' "You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. ... "How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "and I will not accept your offerings. But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies."(Malachi 1:6-11, NLT)
Here's a word from the Word. Take it with you through this day.
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV
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