Childlike Excellence

Originally I was just going to post about the difference between perfection and excellence, but my spirit has been holding strong to the concept of having childlike faith this week. I hadn't really merged the 2 ideas until last night as I was laying in bed.

This week I have been trying to spend some much needed time soaking up God's word. I was watching a DVRed episode of Enjoying Everyday Life and Joyce began preaching about having childlike faith.

Matthew 18:3-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all].

⁴Whoever will humble himself therefore and become like this little child [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving] is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

She pointed out that when you tell a child something, they generally take you at your word. Even if you are dead wrong they will hang onto your words like gospel. So we as believers need to adopt their mentality and hang out to THE GOSPEL for what it is. Be doers as well as hearers. Hang on the very word of God and allow him to fulfill his promises.

The Amplified describes children as trusting, lowly, loving, and forgiving. As a mother of 3 I know that this is a pretty accurate description of their nature. My babies believe that if I have told them something, it is the truth and nothing else (which has caused me to have to be mindful even in my joking with them, but that is a topic for another day...it took my son quite some time to figure out that pregnant women did not eat a baby lol). We have to be bold in our proclamation of faith and be decisive that we are going to take God at his word and nothing else. If you don't know what God's promises are or you just need some direction check this page out. It give 10 verses of God's promises. If you want to look up God's promises in a topical fashion, check this page out. Grab your Bible, and a journal or some note cards, and begin to let God speak to you. We are facing a world where our faith can become weak almost instantly if we aren't sure about what God has in store for us.

I think about all the children in the world with little to hope for. They tend to hang on to an ounce of faith that things will become better for them. They hang on to that mustard seed that someone will be there to make things better.

Matthew 17:20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of ^[a]firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [^[b]that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

So even if you don't have much faith, hang on to it with that childlike grip...God can move a mountain with a mustard seed of faith.

This week I also spent some time thinking about the difference between perfection and excellence. I looked them up in The Webster's Dictionary and this is what I discovered.

Excellence: High quality

Perfection: 1. a quality or condition that cannot be improved. 2. The act if improving something so that it has no flaws. 3.Excellence or skill without flaw.

I personally avoid doing a lot of things out of fear of it not being perfect. When I was thinking about it this week Col 3:17 came to mind.

Colossians 3:17

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.

God does not require perfection out of me. According to the definition of perfection it is absolutely impossible. We are imperfect people because of sin, so we can't be perfect. The only perfect person was Jesus Christ, his very nature was perfect. Our nature is flawed. Our connection to God is our saving grace from our own humanity. We will dink up things in life because our human nature will often slip through the cracks and mess up God's perfect hand in the situation. Be it big or small...our humanity and sinfulness fights for it's place over God's will and desires.

From a personal perspective, there will always be someone who can do it better, but even their way isn't perfect and perfection is not the goal...excellence is what we need to strive for. I want all that my hand to touch to have a high quality, but my high quality may vary at times. I try to be a friend of excellence, but I will not make anyone happy 100% of the time. I try to mother in excellence, but I have to be okay with making a mistake and learning how to move past it. I desire to be an excellent kids' church leader, but there are days that my 100% of excellence just isn't up to overall standard. With all of the strength I can give to any one area, I will give it all in excellence and leave the being perfect up to God.

I'm challenging myself and anyone who's eyes touch this...be boldly childlike in faith. Trust that God is looking out for you, even if you can't see it in the moment. Silver is made beautiful by fire and purification. The refiner knows the process is complete when he can see his reflection in the silver and he understands that exceeding the necessary degree, even slightly, will injure the silver. Trust God at his very word like our children trust in us. We as parents have to say no or not now, but we can see dangers or outcomes our children can't. God wants what is best for us.

When put our hands at things, stop seeking perfection. You'll fail every time, either by the world's standard or God's. Excellence is the key and keeps us connected to God. Excellence leaves room for God to make improvements in us.

Was this a merged thought? Not really sure! lol But, I hope it touches you in some way.