A Commitment To Excellence

A Commitment to Excellence

NBA executive Pat Reilly once said, “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” Sometimes we think that striving for excellence means being perfect, but excellence is about doing the best we can with what we have been given. The great coach Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

The apostle Peter proclaims in 2 Peter 1:3 that “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” He declares that God’s glory and excellence call us to himself. Since God demonstrates excellence, we, too, are to demonstrate this. Peter continues this thought and challenges us to make application to our lives:

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. (verses 5-7)

Take a moment to look at your life. Does it reflect a commitment to excellence and godliness? As men, we should set the tone in striving toward godliness. Respond to the promises of God, and ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and enable you to grow a little bit more each and every day. Someone who is committed to excellence doesn’t settle for the status quo. He pays attention to the details, puts in the required time, and performs with consistency. Sticking with the status quo might feel comfortable, but God’s call runs much deeper.

God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

2 Peter 1:3