Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Don’t settle for mediocrity”
Recently I was reminded of the inspiring example set by the great British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. Nelson was arguably the greatest of all the British Admirals. It was his leadership during the Battle of Trafalgar that turned the course of the war against Napoleon.
What made Nelson such an inspiring leader was that he would settle for nothing less than excellence in his own life and in the lives of others. He believed that God has assigned each of us a role to play in life, some larger and some smaller, and that each of us has a responsibility before God to play our part to the absolute best of our ability.
If your role in the story of life is to play the part of a British Admiral, then be the best British Admiral you can be. If your part is to be a shoemaker, then strive to make the best shoes that have ever been made. If you are a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker, a stay- at-home Mom, a truck driver, a school teacher, an accountant, a doctor, nurse, student, or preacher, be the best one you are capable of being.
Also, as the seasons of life change and as your abilities change, continue to settle for nothing less than your best – whatever “the best” is under the prevailing circumstances.
And that attitude right there, the attitude of continuing to excel despite changing circumstances and limiting factors, might be the most inspiring part of Admiral Nelson’s story because at one point Admiral Nelson lost his left eye in battle. Shortly after that he lost his right arm in battle. But even without his left eye and right arm he continued to serve and he continued to excel to the best of his abilities and as it turned out, his greatest achievements in life occurred in the seven years after he lost his eye and arm.
You see, it wasn’t the healthy and whole Lord Nelson who is remembered as a hero it was the maimed and disabled Lord Nelson who achieved the greatest victories. The reason that was true was because he refused to give up and he refused to use his disabilities and limiting circumstances as an excuse to do less than his best.
In Colossians 3:23-24 the Apostle Paul calls all of us to strive for excellence in whatever we are called by God to do. Your station in life is not the issue – your attitude about it is. Never ever settle for mediocrity. It’s beneath the dignity of a child of God.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 