A More Excellent Way

Mark 7:37

“And they were overwhelmingly astonished, saying He has done everything excellently (commendably and nobly)! He even makes the deaf to hear and the dumbb to speak!” Amplified version.

1 Cor 12:31 “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way”

The word excellence can better be described than defined. Synonyms such as fineness, brilliance, superiority, distinction, quality and merit do a little justice to its description. Excellence is being the best among the best and not stopping at just being the best but continually striving to better the best. Excellence can also be described as being a standard or model by which others are measured; it’s a virtue and a state of being excellent, a part of who a person is, and not what a person does.

An excellent person will produce of course excellent results as we read in the testimony about Jesus in the above scripture. Excellence therefore is a fruit of being excellent.

Paul writing to the Corinthians in the above scripture explains in a way, how to attain the state of being excellent. He described it as a way of life. He encouraged them to strive for the best gifts or become the best in whatever gift God has committed into their hands but he further recommend a better way of attaining the best among the best and that way is the way of Love described into details in the subsequent chapter.

Instead of trying to beat others in the administration of our gifts, we should all concentrate on becoming better than others in our Love towards God and our neighbors; we should exercise ourselves to achieving excellence in Love. If Love then is the fulfillment of all the laws then we are bound to become excellent in all things. Mind you not only in spiritual things but in all matters that pertains to life. It’s indeed easier to strive to become better than others in a game than to Love your neighbors (enemy). If we can then achieve excellence in that which is difficult by the help of the Holy Spirit, then achieving excellence in other businesses will be a child’s play.

Paul the Apostle prayed for the Philippians in Phi 1: 9-10 ‘that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. This is one prayer we all need to frequently pray for ourselves and for others. We need to continually increase in Love for God and for people. Watch the word ‘Still more and more’ this connotes a habit of surpassing whatever record of Love we have achieved in the past. We don’t stop loving or reach a point where Love will no longer be necessary, we must grow in it and continue to grow more and more.

For Further study

1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Romans 2:18

Personal declaration for the day

My Love walk is on the increase and will never decrease in Jesus name.

Questions for you to reflect on:

Do you Love God more than you did last year?

How can you rate your love walk?