Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Excellence”
Our Bible verse for today: “But we encourage you brothers … to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may walk properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.” 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “An excellent life is one of faithfulness.”
God measures an “excellent” life differently than the world does. The world measures excellence in terms of accomplishment, stature, power, influence, and often wealth. But God measures excellence in terms of faithfulness. This is a theme the Apostle Paul wrote about numerous times in his letters.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 he encouraged his readers to seek to live simple and quiet lives. He urged them to mind their own business, work to support themselves, and to set a good example for others. He said it again in 1 Timothy 2:2 when he wrote of how we should strive for a “tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
In Hebrews Chapter 11, which has come to be known as “The Faith Hall of Fame”, along with the rare giants of the faith such as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, the writer refers to the faith of a large unnamed group of common everyday people who simply and quietly lived faithful lives which honored God, and they did so in spite of difficult circumstances and even intense persecution.
The key characteristic in all of those cases is faithfulness. What we learn from those examples is that you don’t have to be a flashy “success” by worldly standards in order to be approved by God. You don’t even have to be a giant of the faith, leading evangelistic crusades and saving the world for Jesus. If you are simply a faithful and committed man or woman of God, living a quiet life in godliness and dignity, honoring God and setting a good example for others, then you are living a life of excellence as far as God is concerned.
Faithfulness is the character trait God is most looking for in His people. A key part of a life of faithfulness must include faithful attendance and participation at the regular gatherings of your church. I encourage you to open your Bible right now and read Hebrews 10:24-25. Then I encourage you to plan to attend your church this Sunday. If you don’t have a church home then I invite you to visit with us at Oak Hill Baptist in Crossville.
An excellent life in the estimation of God is a simple and quiet life of faithfulness.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 