"I am thimply the bestht" Chris Eubank
I will make no apologies that this post in particular is very Christian. It's where I'm at at the moment and I needed to write it down so this is my latest post.
Anything that I have done in my life I have always aspired to be the best at it. I always want to be the best. I have never accepted that it's the taking part that counts. It's winning and being the best and that's that. I am highly competitive. Put me in any scenario or face me with any task and I will want to complete it to the best of my ability and be the best at it.
It's an attitude that has always allowed me to hold my own in sports despite not being the most naturally talented.
It enabled me to do well at school. I had to be the best at spelling. The best at writing. It was what drove me. Pushed me. Motivated me. Be the best.
It has followed me from school into my adult life. I want to be the best English tutor. Graded teaching observations I always want a "1 - Outstanding". As a manager I want to be the best manager that individual has ever had.
I'm getting married and want the best wedding and the best house we can get. I want to be the best husband and one day God willing the best Father.
Yet one area I feel I accept mediocrity in is my walk with Christ.
Why is that? Why do I have such high standards in all other areas of my life, but when it comes to Christ I am prepared to give him what's left, or just enough, as opposed to my all?
After all this is the same Christ who left behind the riches of heaven to die for me an unworhy sinner on the cross. He gave his all for me. His life. Yet all too often I fail to give him my best.
When I became a Christian my mum bought me a book and penned a message on the inside cover. It read "Your whole life you have tried to be the best at everything. I pray you will be the best Christian you can be".
This isn't about me being sinless. Being a perfect person. Doing good works to be the best Christian in the church. That's not what this is about. The Bible teaches we all fall short of the glory of God. Our works and behaviour don't gain us brownie points.
However God's Word also tells us how Christ gave it all, how God gave his Son. So that my sins could be forgiven. We are called to love the Lord God with all our hearts and minds. To put him first. To give him our best.
In what has been an extremely busy few months with birthdays, engagements, promotions and house hunting I have given God the scraps of my life instead of the feast. Despite being showered in blessings He is too often at the back and not the forefront of my thoughts and my life.
It's been take, take, take with very little thankfulness. Far too little prayer and even less reading of His Word. Hence the conviction this week. Thankfully I have picked up my Bible and began to read the book of Joshua. A young man chosen by God, to lead the Israelites into the promised land. Already I have learnt much from Joshua and the way in which he led.
Namely this. If I want to be the best man I can be, then it starts with giving God the best of me. With studying his Word (Joshua 1v8), with putting God first and by following Him even in difficult times (Joshua 3). We are called to live a life that honours the Lord, that is an effective witness and that glorifies our Lord and Saviour. If I do that. Then I know God will enable me to be the best I can be. I want to give my best to God.
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