Dorsey Marshall
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way."
-1 Corinthians 12:31The present day Christian is pictured in the fig tree that Jesus rebuked as He passed by. The fig tree was not producing fruit, just leaves. For many, the excitement doesn't last, emotions wane, and spiritual fervor, as good as it is, isn't consistent. When I see and hear the comments of many of God's people, I am moved to pray for a deeper passion and intimacy for God. To many, God is a last resort in the time of trouble, rather than a first response.
God has planned and purposed you and me to live "a more excellent way," yet, we are often confined to a level of comfort with mediocrity. Our walk with Christ is a journey initiated by our decision to be our best for God and for His kingdom. If we are going to be at our best for Him, why do we settle for "second-best" in our daily activities? This often means that there is a departure from excellence to living lives of mediocrity. This could result from family pressure to conform to the family norm, or peer pressure. Even personal pressure from your past can bring about the change, because your yesterdays can paralyze your effectiveness, and be a powerful and destructive force to your future.
Then, we can easily become excusiologists. Because of our fear of failure, our personal insecurity, and fear of other's opinions, we make excuses for our lack of excellence. Excuses are not only the easy route, but the wide path, a cultural norm ... even a church norm. When something doesn't go the way we think it should go, we shift blame, or make excuses. Those who continually choose to make excuses tend to live a lie, because they have never taken responsibility for their choices.
The pursuit of excellence is a journey, not a destination. Life is a series of choices, not a series of chances! You are experiencing today the results of the decisions you made yesterday. Your quality of the journey is dependent on the moment-by-moment choices you make. Whenever you take the path of excellence, it can be painful. Your personal desires and habits are comfortable and don't want to be stretched. The choices you make may be on an opposing path from the one your friends and family have taken. Pursuing excellence is a lifestyle choice you must make every moment of the day.
LET US PRAY: "Father, lead me and guide me along the path of excellence, In Jesus' Name, Amen!"
