"Be excellent!"

"I therefore, the prisoner in the LORD beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

(Ephesians 4:1-3)

One of the fears I have is getting to heaven and hearing Jesus tell me, in a very loving and compassionate voice, "Oh Jim... if you only knew what you were capable of with my strength. If only you'd lived up to your calling." I don't say that to get sympathy... or for people to tell me how much they think I've done. I say that because SO MUCH IS POSSIBLE by the power of the Holy Spirit! I think sometimes that I settle for "good enough" and not "excellent" in my life and ministry.

Paul wanted to inspire the church in Ephesus to live up to their full potential ("the calling to which you've been called"). And most of the time, or so it seems, the challenge of being excellent comes in relationship to other human beings (go figure!). Paul challenges the church to have humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity. To borrow a phrase from that classic 1989 film of wisdom ("Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"), "Be excellent to each other!" Yup, that basically sums up Pauls' instructions (and Jesus' life message, for that matter).

May I strive to be excellent to everyone (even the difficult people). And may I be found by Jesus to be "worthy of the calling" that he has placed on my life. AMEN.