Excellence - Part I
There has been something on my mind lately, and I’ve decided I’m going to write about it. For the past little while, one word has just been coming to me over and over: excellence. I think we’ve all heard the Army’s slogan of “Be all that you can be,” but I think we tend to get complacent very easily and oftentimes don’t reach our potential in many areas of our life.
The first and most important of these areas would be our walk with God. Our awesome God has called us to quite the standard: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Now, we, as humans, are a sinful race. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) How then can we be perfect? If everyone has already “blown” their shot by sinning, then isn’t it too late? Not so. 
See, I believe that God knows how we’re made (He does; He made us!). Even though on our own we can never achieve perfection, He set that high standard for us to pursue, to strive for. And I believe that what He wants from us — despite our blemishes and definite imperfection — is for us to be giving our all, doing our best to be perfect. We’re not going to always succeed, but I think we need to have that mindset and to never fall into the trap of thinking, “Oh, well, I’m pretty good already.” We need to realize what a high standard God has for us, and we need to give it our all to try to meet that.
I think it’s very easy to make the mistake of brushing off a flaw, a bad habit or a “hang-up” or ours and justifying it by saying, “Hey, I’m human. Give me a break. We’re all sinners anyway, and X, Y and Z just happen to be my sins.” That, in my opinion, is really arrogant. We’re not allowed to select our three favorite sins and hold on to them. God knows our hearts, and He knows what our true goal is. Are we feverishly trying to smoke out any hint of sin? Or are we trying to hang on to a few?
We still will be imperfect even if we are honestly trying to obey God in every situation. We are humans and we’re bound to mess up now and then. My whole point, though, is we can’t allow that and be satisfied with it! You can’t think, “Oh, surely I can do this sin.” At the same time, realize that God does forgive! So don’t beat yourself up too much if you realize, “Oh, my goodness. I’m such a sinner! It’s hopeless!” There’s a saying that I really like: “Expect perfection. Accept imperfection.”
If we are always striving to please God in every situation, I think we’re on the right track, even though we might slip and fall at times. What it all boils down to is where your heart is. I think it’s very dangerous and reckless to live life any way other than pursuing holiness and wanting to please God in every situation.
For the record, I’m a sinner! I need to read and take these words to heart as much as anybody out there. Don’t think for a second that I’m saying, “Hey, look at me!” I’m saying, “Hey, look at Him!” “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1)
No matter how many times you’ve fallen short, God can forgive you and you can start anew. I would just strongly encourage you to do everything you can do live your life so that it honors and glorifies our incredible God.