Over the last few weeks or months, it is most likely that
most of you readers had to part with someone you dearly loved or admired or
looked up to. Someone you felt somehow connected with. And then they were gone.
On our side too, it seems we suddenly had to part with the
older brother of ours that passed on. And then we have to part with a precious
family we have grown close to. Our sweet brother to a place that we all one day
like to be part of: the heavenly realm where God the Father dwells. He has Jesus
at His side as well as a whole host of heavenly beings. Besides the heavenly
host there also many Up there already who lived on this earth but have now
passed on to that beautiful place. Reserve your seat because especially if you
have loved ones Up there you want to see them back. Meanwhile, finish your
heavenly assignment with excellence. This dear family that will say bye soon,
will part to the place where God has called them next.
Parting Hurts. Parting Costs
We are social beings and meant to interact with each other,
love one another, work together and make this world a better place. Till we
have finished our assignments here on earth and can move to THE place of
excellence, called Heaven.
Living just for oneself and our own interests and pockets is
no fun and will never satisfy or make this world any better because we are just
taking up space. And we might not make it to that place of perfection if all we
think about is our own “Kingdom” instead of His Kingdom
I do not know about you, but I like to live a life of
excellence because I am serving a God of excellence.
But that comes with a cost. Because if we live a life of
excellence according to God’s Word, it will also means sacrifice and moving on
with the assignment God has for you in spite of the loss and grief you might
feel with people moving on, either Up with Him or here on earth
When that happens, it is a good time to reflect. Did you
portray a spirit of excellence in your relationship with the ones that moved
on? Did you value the time you had with them? Do you see the value they had in
your life and the life of others? Could you see them and value them as God sees
them?
Whether it was a family, a colleague, a parent or ministry
relationship, excellence is required in all of them, if we say we are a child
of God. Children most likely reflect their parents, either in a good way or
less desirable way, depending on the input they had and the choices the
children make with all that has put into them. Especially for their sake we
should want to live a life of excellence and especially treat our relationships
with excellence because God sees each one of us as someone so valuable it was
worth His only Son. And that is worth passing on way more than passing on some
earthly belongings to your friends or children. Because earthly goods, you can
never take with you to that place where we will live forever.
According to psalm 36:7 yes! How precious is your loyal
love, O God! The sons of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Most of
the time precious will mean excellent, or extravagant)
We have an excellent God and we should reflect Him!
We have examples in the Bible of men and women of
excellence. In the old testament Daniel had a spirit of excellence. It got him
in the highest place although he was just a slave at first. As it did Joseph,
the son of Jacob. From a slave to a prisoner (although he was innocent) he
became the man right next to the Pharaoh (the ruler of that day) because he too
had an excellent spirit.
Daniel - A Spirit of Excellence
Dan 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge,
and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and
dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named
Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Dan 5:14: I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods
is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in
thee.
Dan 6:3: Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents
and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to
set him over the whole realm.
Here one definition of what Daniel’s excellence meant: He
was able to distinguish between good and evil, lawful and unlawful, to approve
of things that excel, to differ from one and live a standard of excellence in
all he did.
Jesus of course had a spirit of excellence which was
portrayed in his ministry which He left behind for us all to continue. (Heb
8:6) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is
the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
With that excellent ministry came also better promises then they had before
Jesus came. The covenant we have with the Father is a new one through Jesus
Christ. So holding on to the Old covenant is to our disadvantage of doing an
excellent ministry.
Excellence should go in every area of your life. At home, at
work, in your free time, in your relationships, your family life, your time
management, your children’s upbringing and so on. Ask yourself am I living a
life of excellence? No matter what situation you find yourself in, always
ponder: is this a moment of excellence and would I want to live it again? If
not, do better from now on.If so, do even exceed that next time.
With God on your side backing you up, the Holy Spirit as
your Teacher and Jesus as your intercessor, you can live that life of
excellence. Just say “YES” to the Heavenly realm.
They are more eager than you, to make sure you do!
Blessings as you start living a life of excellence.
