For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us? … And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Deuteronomy 4:7-8
In Deuteronomy 4, Moses was explaining to the children of Israel why they needed to live out the Word of God when they come into the Promised Land. Moses exhorted them, “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess” (Deut. 4:5). The Law (Torah) in the Scriptures was given not only to bless the Israelites, they were given to help them stand out powerfully among the heathens in the land.
Sinners are not going to be impressed by the religious activities of the saints. Our praying in tongues, praise and worship, water baptisms, holy communions, liturgies and prayer books are not going to move the lost very much toward the gospel. The world already has its fair share of yoga, new age meditation, eating, drinking, merrymaking, discos and karaoke to be awestricken by our faith practices and sacraments. So, how can we move them closer to the Lord? Moses says that when the unbelievers see how the Word of God has changed our lives for the better—how it has given us wisdom for our marriage, career, finances and daily dealings, how we have become sharp as a people, then they can’t help but to admit, “Wow, surely this great church is a wise and understanding people. For what other group is there that has a God so near to it?” By having a spirit of excellence in everything we do, we are actually witnessing powerfully for Jesus Christ.
Every Sunday night, American football teams play their games before millions of sports fans and television viewers. But it is a known fact that every Monday morning, every single football team would review their Sunday match videos religiously without fail. No matter how tired they are, they never take their Mondays off. Why not? Because that is the time they evaluate for greater excellence. Could they have played better? Could they have performed better? In a sense, a professional football player is not really competing against others, he is competing against himself; to outdo himself each week. How much more should we constantly evaluate our walk with God as followers of Christ? God deserves our best. Superior quality should mark everything a Christian does. It is good testimony to the world when a Christian produces superior quality in his work. It is bad testimony when the quality he or she churns out is inferior. From today onward, decide to be first class, for Jesus’ sake, in everything you do!
In Deuteronomy 4, Moses was explaining to the children of Israel why they needed to live out the Word of God when they come into the Promised Land. Moses exhorted them, “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess” (Deut. 4:5). The Law (Torah) in the Scriptures was given not only to bless the Israelites, they were given to help them stand out powerfully among the heathens in the land.
Sinners are not going to be impressed by the religious activities of the saints. Our praying in tongues, praise and worship, water baptisms, holy communions, liturgies and prayer books are not going to move the lost very much toward the gospel. The world already has its fair share of yoga, new age meditation, eating, drinking, merrymaking, discos and karaoke to be awestricken by our faith practices and sacraments. So, how can we move them closer to the Lord? Moses says that when the unbelievers see how the Word of God has changed our lives for the better—how it has given us wisdom for our marriage, career, finances and daily dealings, how we have become sharp as a people, then they can’t help but to admit, “Wow, surely this great church is a wise and understanding people. For what other group is there that has a God so near to it?” By having a spirit of excellence in everything we do, we are actually witnessing powerfully for Jesus Christ.
Every Sunday night, American football teams play their games before millions of sports fans and television viewers. But it is a known fact that every Monday morning, every single football team would review their Sunday match videos religiously without fail. No matter how tired they are, they never take their Mondays off. Why not? Because that is the time they evaluate for greater excellence. Could they have played better? Could they have performed better? In a sense, a professional football player is not really competing against others, he is competing against himself; to outdo himself each week. How much more should we constantly evaluate our walk with God as followers of Christ? God deserves our best. Superior quality should mark everything a Christian does. It is good testimony to the world when a Christian produces superior quality in his work. It is bad testimony when the quality he or she churns out is inferior. From today onward, decide to be first class, for Jesus’ sake, in everything you do!
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