Excellence and Integrity (part 2)

Joyce Meyer preached a sermon series called “Living with Excellence and Integrity.” In part one she discussed “A Commitment to Excellence and Integrity.” In order to view a summary and my commentary of this study, please refer to my previous blog, “Excellence and Integrity.”

In part two of Joyce Meyer’s series, she discusses “Character Traits of an Excellent Man.” Before I delve into this study, I want to mention that God’s idea of what makes a person excellent is significantly different than the worlds idea of what makes a person excellent. The world tells us that we need to be physically attractive, wealthy, have a high level of education, own coveted possessions, have a job where we are at the top of the ladder, and on and on. The media is constantly bombarding us with images of what they believe defines an excellent person. God’s Word tells us something different. It tells us that God loves us, and that we are sinners who have fallen from His grace. However, when we receive Christ into our lives and live for Him, God makes our lives new, beautiful. His Word also reminds us that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s grace. It is through Jesus that we receive grace and forgiveness and become new. We have to trust in Christ, and after we do, God will lead us and guide us to live a life of excellence. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

When we come to know Christ, we have the opportunity to live a life of excellence. In “Character Traits of an Excellent Man,” Joyce talks about being comfortable. Many of us are addicted to comfort. However, if we want to possess the character traits of someone who is excellent, then we need to be willing to go the extra. Going the extra mile isn’t always comfortable, but we need to be committed to doing what’s right. There are too many people who do the right thing, in order to receive a reward or to be blessed, but we need to do what’s right because it glorifies God. We need to have the attitude that says, “God, even if you don’t bless me, I’m going to live my life for you.”

It’s great to read the Bible and attend church, but we need to make the effort as Christian’s to come up higher in our walk with Christ. We need to be “doers of the Word” and not just hearers. In John 13, Jesus shows us what it means to be excellent. What was His example to us? Jesus washed His disciple’s feet. Being a servant for the Lord is an honor and a privilege, and it is when we serve that we are living what God considers to be an excellent life. Again, we shouldn’t do anything to get blessed, but in John 13:7 we see that when we are “doers of the Word,” then we will be blessed. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them (John 13:7).” As believers, we need to sow good seeds and bear good fruit, if we want to receive God’s favor.

Joyce gave a great example of a man from the Bible who possessed character traits of someone excellent, and that man was Daniel. “Daniel went from the pit to the palace, because he was a man of excellence (Joyce Meyer).” What was it that set Daniel apart? It was more than the gift God gave him of a “keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems (Daniel 5:12).” Daniel was the kind of man who went against the flow of the “normal,” and continued to do what was right, regardless of his circumstances. It was because of his decision to live with excellence that Daniel was favored by the King and promoted. Even when people came against Daniel and coerced the King to throw anyone in the lion’s den who did not worship the King, Daniel lived with excellence. What did he do? Daniel 6:10 says, “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel didn’t allow the ways of the world to sway his convictions, and because of it he was thrown into the lion’s den. What did God do? He showed up and He saved Daniel. Daniel walked away without a scratch, because He had God’s favor.

In her sermon, Joyce goes on to say that just like Daniel, we need to make a commitment to do what’s right, even if it costs us something. We need to stop putting our expectations in people and put our expectations in God. We need to live godly lives, especially when times get tough. All of us will go through trials, and if we choose to truly sell out to God, then we will be taken out of our comfort zone, but God will always come through for His children. God will give us strength to complete the work He has called us to do, and He will provide a way out, when we come up against temptation. When the road gets rough and we face trials or persecution, God will come to our rescue and shut the lions mouth, like he did for Daniel (Daniel 6:22). We have to trust God, no matter what.

Lastly, Joyce encouraged us in her sermon to examine our prayer life. What are we praying for? Are we praying for others, or do we mainly pray for ourselves? Are we praying for our enemies and for people who persecute us like Jesus asked us to (Matthew 5:44)? I also encourage all of us to ask ourselves, “Am I listening?” Remember, prayer is a two way street. Maybe it’s time to be still and listen to God’s voice. He wants to lead us and guide us, and He wants to have fellowship with us.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:9-12).”