Too many times, we as Christians devalue what God values.  I think we do this because we've bought into secular society's success at all cost.  Also, much of modern day preaching and teaching has lent itself to that mindset as well within the church.  When we're constantly bombarded with the message of "your new house, car, land, or whatever, is coming if you'll just trust God and have enough faith," and it doesn't happen to "me", then I really don't have anything to offer back.  After all - God hasn't blessed me like He did them.

The greatest blessing I've found in ministry and life is to help people do the following:

1.  Know Christ

2.  Know the true blessings of life

3.  Know that excellence is doing the best I can with what I've got

Today, as you think about this principle of a growing church and a growing Christian, know that God's greatest gift is Christ in you and the greatest return on God's investment happens when you are satisfied in Him.

Study, meditate on, and apply God's Word to your life today and then, with all you have, decide it's enough for today, and that you will honor God by doing the very best you can with what He has placed in your hand.

Study it:

   Colossians 3:18-25

Think about it:

1.  Paul gives the "rules of the house" as it were in this passage.  Name the different individuals he is instructing here. (vv18-22)

2.  What do you see is expected from each person mentioned?

3.  How do you think Paul would have defined excellence, according to this teaching? (v 23a)

4.  Seeing that each member of the family, from slave to father, brings something different and at varying levels of expertise to give back to the family unit, what does Paul instruct each of them to do? (v23)

Live it:

What would a life of excellence look like where you are today?  Whoever you are, whatever you do, do it "as unto the Lord" and it will be enough and it will be excellent.  If what you're doing can't be done "as unto the Lord" you can be sure it is not His will for you.

Pastor Steve