The devil of mediocrity
This little outline by one of my favorite pastors and writers - Charles Swindoll was sent to me by one of our young adults in our congregation. it speaks right to one of the biggest enemies we all face and that’s the enemy of mediocrity. Enjoy, be challenged and thanks Viv.
EXCELLENCE
by Charles R. Swindoll
1 Peter 2:12
Mediocrity is fast becoming the byword of our times. Every imaginable excuse is now used to make it acceptable, hopefully preferred. Budget cuts, time deadlines, majority opinion, and hard-nosed practicality are outshouting and outrunning excellence. Those forces seem to be winning the race.
Incompetence and status quo averages are held up as all we can now expect, and the tragedy is that more and more people have virtually agreed. Why worry over the small stuff? Why bother with the genuine now that the artificial looks so real? If the public buys it, why sweat it?
To make it painfully plain, why think clearly since most folks want someone else to think for them? Why live differently in a society where it’s so much easier to look the same and swim downstream? Why fight fiercely when so few seem to care? Why stand courageously if it means risking ridicule, misunderstanding, or being considered a dreamer by some and a fool by others?
Why, indeed? To quote young David just before he took on that Philistine behemoth in the Valley of Elah, “Is there not a cause?” Must we wait for someone else to establish our standard or to set our pace? Not on your life!
It is my firm conviction that those who impact and reshape the world are the ones committed to living above the level of mediocrity. There are still too many opportunities for excellence, too much demand for distinctiveness, to be satisfied with just getting by.
Excellence is a difficult concept to communicate because it can easily be misread as neurotic perfectionism or snooty sophistication. But it is neither. On the contrary, it is the stuff of which greatness is made. It is the difference between just getting by and soaring—-that which sets apart the significant from the superficial, the lasting from the temporary. A commitment to excellence is neither popular nor easy. But it is essential.
Excellence in integrity and morality as well as ethics and scholarship. Excellence in physical fitness and spiritual fervor just as much as excellence in relationships and craftsmanship.
Since it is the living Lord in the final analysis who appraises our excellence, it is He whom we must please and serve, honor and adore.
1 Peter 2
As Newborn Babes
1Therefore, (A)putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all (B)slander, 2(C)like newborn babies, long for the (D)pure milk of the word, so that by it you may (E)grow in respect to salvation, 3if you have (F)tasted (G)the kindness of the Lord.
As Living Stones
4And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been (H)rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5(I)you also, as living stones, are being built up as a (J)spiritual house for a holy (K)priesthood, to (L)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6For this is contained in Scripture:
”(M)BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A (N)PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
7(O)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “(P)THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS (Q)REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” 8 and,
”(R)A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
(S)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, (T)and to this doom they were also appointed.
9But you are (U)A CHOSEN RACE, A royal (V)PRIESTHOOD, A (W)HOLY NATION, (X)A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you (Y)out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10(Z)for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
11(AA)Beloved, (AB)I urge you as (AC)aliens and strangers to abstain from (AD)fleshly lusts which wage (AE)war against the soul. 12(AF)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they (AG)slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, (AH)glorify God (AI)in the day of [a]visitation.
