Maybe it’s just me. You won’t find it explicitly in the Bible, and I will be the last to add anything to the Word of God. Still, it appears it is at least implied that disciples of Jesus should live their lives held to a higher standard. After all, our model is none other than Jesus Christ. How could we help but live dramatically different lives than those around us? It’s what He did.
We too easily surrender to the malaise of Western Christianity and forget the purpose of our lives. Our mission is to tell everyone the good news of Jesus. It’s to look after the orphans, widows, sick, impoverished, and imprisoned (James 1:27; Matthew 25:31-46). And we are to do these things with excellence (Colossians 3:23-24).
When you see the world through the eyes of Jesus, you can no longer be content with “good enough” in anything you do. Everything we do, we do for His glory. Can you imagine walking with Jesus and doing anything halfway? No, What you do for Jesus, you do all the way. When you understand who it is you are serving, you will want everything to be the best you can for Him. He gave His best for us. How can we do anything less in return?
Hope should permeate every conversation we have. There’s no room for negativity in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the ultimate representation of love and love always hopes and believes the best in every person and situation (I Corinthians 13:6-7). When you’re on mission for Jesus, you don’t have time to lament your sad state. Things may be awful in your life. You might be sick, broke, jobless, homeless, and alone. And yet if you have Jesus, you are not alone. You are not without hope or beyond love. He still sees you and is looking forward to the day He will hold you in His arms.
The higher standard to which we must hold ourselves will permeate everything we do, every conversation we have, and every thought we think. When we surrender to the lordship of Jesus, our lives change forever. When God changes our hearts, everything that flows from our hearts now flows with love and excellence. Things may not always go our way, but we must always move in God’s way. This means we always give more than the job, conversation, or situation requires of us. We go above and beyond for Him because He certainly did for us.
Don’t be content with a life of mediocrity and half-hearted efforts. Paul said everything we do, we do for God’s glory (Colossians 3:23-24). Make certain everything you say, think, and do is worthy of the praise of Jesus. We’re not perfect. We will mess this up. A lot. But our hearts must always yearn for that higher standard worthy of our Savior. Focus afresh on Jesus today. See Him beside you throughout your day. Live your life worthy of His. Live to a higher standard.