"EXCELLENCE"

Pathway To Success

Part I

February 2010

      “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In this scripture, the Apostle Paul mentioned the high calling of God. The Lord wants his disciples to excel. There are steps we can take to attain excellence in the kingdom of God. Excellence is defined as: great merit or efficiency. To obtain excellence we must pursue it. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” (Psalm 42:1) “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) The expression, hunger and thirst, indicates a strong desire. God gave his best; so we should do no less. Jesus was committed to the plan of redemption. He paid the ultimate price for our salvation. We should respond with faithful and loyal service to our king. “I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

     There are four topics we need to discuss; that are essential in achieving excellence. They are: association, education, assimilation and application. Association means: to join as a partner or colleague, connect in the mind. We should be selective with our associations. The people we keep company with influence our life. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20) Good people have a positive affect on us. Bad company corrupts. The word of God warns against companionship with the world. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”(II Corinthians 6:14-17) As a young believer, I remember asking the Lord about this passage of scripture. I wanted to know what it meant to be unequally yoked. God told me that in any situation, where the unbeliever was guiding the relationship, that that was an unequal yoke. When believers are guiding people to faith in Jesus; that is alright with God.

     The disciples spent 3 1/2 years with Christ. They had personal knowledge of the Son of God. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”) (I John 1:1-3) The disciple’s fellowship with Jesus prepared them for ministry. Fellowship is based on a commonality of interests. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) Right associations breeds success. We need to surround ourselves with people of character and strength. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17) Godly people enhance us. Christian friends care about our walk with Christ. Years ago, the Lord empathically told me to preach what people need to hear: not what they want to hear. “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Proverbs 27:5&6)