Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 26, 2018
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
We admire excellence in others. Professional athletes, attorneys, speakers, teachers, coaches, custodians, mothers, fathers, leaders, elected officials, and business men and women who excel motivate others to excel. Their commitment to thousands of hours in focused training and competition makes their flawless performance look easy. It is their obsession with perfection that leads them to excellence.
In Christ perfection is our position. Outside of Christ no one is perfect, but inside of Christ everyone is perfect. We are perfect because He is perfect. “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). The challenge lies in our living in a sinful world with sinful people; therefore, perfection is diluted. Nonetheless, Jesus commanded His children to be perfect on the same level as their heavenly Father. So as we seek perfection in this life, we see glimpses of glory, and we do capture excellence in the process.
What does excellence look like from the eyes of the eternal? Paul, a protagonist of perfection, describes our dilemma:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–14).
People with an eternal perspective promote perfection. Therefore, embrace excellence as a core value in your life and work. Because you represent the Lord Jesus, be an excellent example of a Christian. Be it ministry or business, your vocation is a vicarious look at our Lord. Talk about Jesus from a platform of perfection, and people will stop to listen. Excellence is your entrée into promoting a loving relationship with God.
“You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever” (Psalm 45:2).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me represent you with excellence in all aspects of my life just as Jesus did. Amen.Application
Do I settle for mediocrity, or do I aspire to excellence? Are others attracted to the quality of my character, competence, and family?Related Reading
Psalm 18:32; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 10:14 Taken from Seeking Daily the Heart of God v.2Post/Tweet today
Because you represent the Lord Jesus, by God's grace be an excellent example of a Christian. #excellence #wisdomhuntersWorship Resource
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