#BibleBreakdown - "Christian" Excellence? #ThursdayThoughts

"Their skills did not conform, they became the new bar to CONFORM TO!"

Brother Earl Blackman the motivational speaker, life, Personal Development and leadership development coach, posted a thought provoking message on YouTube. Check it out then continue reading. As I studied the message, it got me thinking, what is excellence?

The majority of people - I hope - have gone through schooling where there was a narrow focus of getting above mediocre grades. In other words, you were forced to excel as a student in the hope of better life prospects down the line. If this form of excellence dwells close to your own definition, prepare for that to change. "Make it your aim to do what is right, not what is evil, so that you may live. Then the Lord God will really be with you as you claim he is" says Amos 5:14 (GNT). Doing what is right is the eyes of God, therefore actively being a real "Christ-i-an" is just.

Covering thoughts about life, "the philosopher" in Ecclesiastes 7:8 declared that "patience is better than pride. The philosopher presents a deeper meaning of spiritual excellence that Christians are called to maintain, stressing that, " someone who always thinks about happiness is a fool. A wise person thinks about death". Why? Because as Ecclesiastes explicitly states in chapter 3, everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. Amen?

A wise man or woman will tell you that the next second, minute or hour, let alone tomorrow; is not promised - only by God's grace do we see the next day. This level of spirituality occurs within a person that is aware of these things and is alert. As time can not be regained, only lost. No matter how much we plan, stress, organize, worry and save, God controls the course that our lives go in when we operate within him. John 4:4 states that " But you belong to God, my children, and have defeated the false prophets, because the Spirit in you is more powerful than the spirit that is in those who belong to the world."

When people talk about excellence generally in the world, it is often ascribed to things or people that we can "apparently" never be like. For example Lionel Messi's football handling skills that allow him to embarrass the best defenders with ease. Dyson, the British inventor who's electronic technology is simplistic and unique yet very efficient in nature. The IPhone, the cellular device which comes with the shortest instruction manual, "press the power button". Nike. Adidas. Iconic people such as Mother Teresa, Muhammad Ali, Nelson Mandela. The list is endless. What commonality do this objects, brands and people all possess? What makes them so special from the rest?

They were ALL embodied a high ranking value, which demanded praise without self-pronunciation. Their skills did not conform, they became the new bar to CONFORM TO! Their own lane later became "THE LANE" to follow. Praise the living God. Amen.

Adapt to this way of thinking, and only then will our behaviour change and reach new heights of greatness. Places where you couldn't reach before.

To bring this message to a close Ecclesiastes 12:13 states that"...there in one thing to say, have reverence (RESPECT) for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that humans beings were called for."

 Amen.

Anthony. .