Scripture & Thought
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Philip Dormer Stanhope was the 4th Earl of Chesterfield. History remembers him as Lord Chesterfield. In his book, Letters to His Son, Chesterfield wrote these words: “There is scarcely anybody who is absolutely good for nothing and hardly anybody good at everything.” That’s very true.
In his book, Christian Excellence – Alternate to Success, Jon Johnston suggests that while excellence is difficult to define, it is within the reach of anyone who chooses to pursue it. He adds that “every person, no matter how lowly, has the potential to attain excellence.”
Excellence has become so intertwined with measurable results that we seldom recognize there is a difference between the terms. We ask, “What’s the bottom line in this situation?” by which we mean, “How much profit have we turned?” Or, more practically speaking, “Did we reach our goals this year?” Excellence, in those questions, means performance. It means “doing” not necessarily “being.”
Then we come across the words of the apostle, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
What did Peter mean by “everything we need?” Money? Intelligence? Opportunity? Education? Hardly. The apostle adds in verse 4 of 2 Peter 1:4 – “He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” The point is, we are called to “escape the corruption in the world” that often is part of what secular America considers necessary to achieve success. Excellence and success are not synonymous.
Mediocrity is the opposite of excellence. Mediocre means something is inferior in quality. Excellence means “of the highest or finest quality” – well above the average, uncommonly good.
More than our national life needs “renewal.” Our homes, our churches, our schools, and individually we need a renewal sparked by God’s divine power. We cannot accomplish any of this on our own. But with God’s help, we can become people of excellence!
Prayer: Dear God, I pray that to some degree I may achieve excellence in who I am and in the way I live my life. May my legacy reflect a pursuit for excellence, not settling for mediocrity. I pray this, not for my glory, but for yours. In your son’s name I pray.
Amen.