Excellence

During my gap year at church our leader always reminded us to do things with excellence. Now, almost 10 years later, my fellow yoylies and still I like to say, "excellenncceee" to one another when performing any task at church.

I stopped to think about it the other day though and wondered how often I fall short of that standard of excellence in the things I do. Why do I settle for less than my best? Why do I do the easy thing rather than the right thing with a good attitude?

Ever found yourself in this boat? Making excuses for doing less than your best? Or doing what is asked of you, but with a sour attitude and a poor effort? Unfortunately, sometimes I am the captain of this sinking boat.

But like Paul talks about in Romans 7, this is not how I want to be. I don't want to be that guy! This isn’t how it should be. In everything, I know I am called to be an imitator and ambassador of Jesus. The Bible speaks about this a lot:

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;” 
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Titus 2:7 "In everything set them an example by doing what is good."

Somehow I don't think that poor efforts and half-hearted living go well with setting a good example and imitating and glorifying our God. He is not about that halfway life. So I don't want to settle for that either.

No, I don't have to be the best at everything. I never will be. But I do want to give of my best in everything I do. From the big moments and life changing decisions I make, to the small, seemingly insignificant times of eating and drinking and washing the dishes, I want to choose to do it with the excellence of my God.

Something I have found to be helpful in trying to pursue excellence is accountability. Talking about the areas of laziness and half-heartedness in my life and asking an accountability buddy to challenge me when they see me slacking, has gone a long way in helping me up my excellence game. Not because I feel the need to strive or achieve to be loved or accepted, but because I want to live well in a way that speaks Jesus to those around me.

It's also vital, in this pursuit of excellence to show myself grace. Despite my hopes (and pride), I am never always going to do everything right the first time (or maybe even the second or seventeenth time over). In my flawed, broken, sinful body and mind, absolute excellence isn't an option. And that is not what I'm called to. Failure will happen. Below average results will happen.

But because my God calls me to persevere, I will try, try again. I will pursue excellence for the glory of God and to set a good example to those in my life. And above all, I will pursue Jesus, the ultimate picture and embodiment of excellence.