“You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 The Amplified Bible)
Happy Friday to you! I want to compliment you and challenge you this morning. How did all this come about? Let me explain. I received some compliments about last week’s sermon. Really, I did not do anything except deliver the message how the Lord put it on my heart to deliver, appropriate for what the sheep of His flock needed at the specific time. Listen! I did not let the compliments cause me to cease reaching for perfection in preaching the word of God, as if I had “arrived.” My church members have heard me say a quote that once adorned the entry way to the workplace at a former employer, “Strive for perfection and achieve excellence.” So, week after week, I never let my ego or the enemy erase that endless pursuit or shutdown my striving to be better. Please take note! Compliments are good, but they should not cause us to relax in carrying out our God-given purposes. Let me explain further how the compliment and the challenge that I have for you came about. A school administrator who I met in 2018, sends out daily quotes to several readers, including me. Wednesday the quote was from Winston Churchill, and it said, “Success always demands a greater effort.”
Now my compliment for the awesome things you do for the Lord and accompany the compliment with a challenge just for you! You are doing good in your Christian endeavors. You have experienced some success in your personal and your church-organized ministry efforts. You are doing good being the salt of the earth and the light of the world! Now I’m not using Key Principle #1: “Maintain and/or enhance self-esteem (DDI),” to build you up. I am serious. You are doing good in making progress in using the gift that God has blessed you with and I am so glad about it. God is too! But nevertheless, there is a challenge. However, it is not to be perceived as a challenge from me, for it is for me, just as much as it is for you. It’s from God! A greater effort is demanded. Read the familiar verse below and be convicted by it! Let us continue to strive for perfection! There is room for growth and continuously there is the challenge to go higher, committed to the climb! Get started! Sustain the momentum! Status quo is not acceptable! Press on! Have a great Friday! Be blessed!
“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King