Category: Devotional Thoughts

“When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”
– George Washington Carver (1864-1943)

If you’ve ever spent time at my apartment, you’ll know that Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic are three of my favorite channels. I figure I might as well learn something while watching TV. I’m not really sure what I learn from watching the lions attack the buffalo heard for the 100th time, but it’s still better than soap operas.

One show I like to watch is American Chopper. It is sort of a reality show, based on the work of the Orange County Chopper garage. They explain their project at the beginning of each show. After an hour you get to see the finished product—a custom made motorcycle. Part of the show’s entertainment comes from watching father, son and son argue over how to make the motorcycle. I’m particularly thankful for TV censorship; since the explicatives are abundant during their arguments (lots of words get “bleeped” out).

Here’s what I find particularly interesting about these guys at OCC: they are basically fabricators, designers, mechanics and motorcycle enthusiasts (nothing particularly glorious about these titles). I doubt that they ever planned to be famous, yet they have their own TV show. They even have their own video game I hear. It is normal for them to meet professional athletes, celebrities, CEO’s, and the like. How does this happen?

The answer is this: EXCELLENCE. They’ve established a reputation for excellence in what they do. Their work has become world renown.

Proverbs has something to say about this subject:
Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will serve before kings;
he will not serve before obscure men.
–Proverbs 22:29

I imagine that King Solomon wrote this because he had personally experienced it. Solomon’s building projects are famous until this day. Those who were highly skilled had the honor of working for him—perhaps even meeting him personally.

As this New Year begins, let’s strive for excellence in all that we do. You never know just where your skills might take you if you do your best and pursue excellence. Perhaps you too will stand before kings!

This term I’ll be teaching a seminary class called Live Like Jesus. It is what we call a spiritual formation class. In other words, the class is more spiritually oriented instead of academically oriented (not that these two are mutually exclusive).

I’ve had to ponder the name of this class ever since I accepted the invitation to teach it. There were actually two classes that I could have chosen to teach: either Live Like Jesus or Preach Like Jesus. Pastor Ed asked me which one I wanted to teach. I responded, “I don’t think I’m qualified to teach either.” I felt kind of like it was a choice between teaching Raise the Dead 101 or Introduction to Walking on Water. After all, who really lives like Jesus? Who really preaches like him?

Paul said something to the Corinthians that leaves me divinely disturbed:

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
–1st Corinthians 11:1

How could a man who described himself as the “worst” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) ask people to follow him? I think I have part of the answer: Paul took full responsibility for his own spiritual life. He knew he was not perfect and he knew he never would be. He also knew, however, that he pursued God with all of his might. Paul did not use his past (or sin in general) as an excuse for a substandard spiritual walk. Consider his words to the Philippians:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 3:13-14

I have come to this conclusion about the Christian life: A life which is not worth imitating is a life not worth living. Whether I like it or not, I am “living like Jesus” for those students who look up to me—I am the only example that some of them have.

You are also living like Jesus for someone (perhaps for many). Follow Him closely so that you will be a godly example—an example worth following.