DN Pursuing Excellence 2/20/2008
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:02:38 -0500
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DRAWING NEAR
February 20
Pursuing Excellence
"So that you may approve the things that are excellent"
(Philippians 1:10).
In a world of mediocrity and confusion, God calls you to excellence
and discernment.
There's the story of a pilot who came on the loudspeaker mid flight
and said, "I have some good news and bad news. The bad news is we've
lost all our instrumentation and don't know where we are. The good
news is we have a strong tail wind and are making great time." That's
an accurate picture of how many people live: they have no direction
in life but they're getting there fast!
We as Christians are to be different because we have divine guidance
and eternal goals. Our lives are to be marked by a confident trust in
God and a pursuit of spiritual excellence.
"Excellent" in Philippians 1:10 speaks of things that are worthwhile
and vital. Approving what is excellent refers to testing things as
one would test a precious metal to determine its purity and value. It
goes beyond knowing good from evil. It distinguishes between better
and best. It involves thinking biblically and focusing your time and
energy on what really counts. It involves cultivating spiritual
discipline and not being controlled by your emotions, whims, moods,
or circumstances.
Many organizations and businesses have adopted the motto, "Commitment
to Excellence" to convey their desire to provide the finest product
or service possible. If secular-minded people strive for that level
of achievement, how much more should Christians pursue excellence for
the glory of God!
Look at your life. Is it filled with godly love, discernment, and the
pursuit of excellence--or has worldly trivia crowded out those
virtues?
Suggestions for Prayer:
Read Isaiah 12:1-6 as a psalm of praise to the God of excellence. Ask
God to give you a heart constantly set on pursuing excellence for His
glory.
For Further Study:
Daniel was a man who pursued excellence. Read Daniel 1:1-2:21.
What was Daniel's decision regarding the king's food and wine, and
how did he handle the situation? How did Daniel and his three friends
compare in wisdom and understanding to the magicians and conjurers?
What principles do you see in those two chapters that apply to your
life?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Isaiah 12:1-6 (NKJV)
1 And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; Though
You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort
me.
2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For
YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my
salvation.'"
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of
salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His
name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name
is exalted.
5 Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known
in all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One
of Israel in your midst!"
Daniel 1:1-2:21
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah,
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some
of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land
of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into
the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to
bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's
descendants and some of the nobles,
4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted
in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had
ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the
language and literature of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's
delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of
training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve
before the king.
6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.
7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the
name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to
Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he
drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he
might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the
chief of the eunuchs.
10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the
king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see
your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then
you would endanger my head before the king."
11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had
set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us
vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the
appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's
delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants."
14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten
days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and
fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the
king's delicacies.
16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the
wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in
all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all
visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they
should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar.
19 Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found
like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served
before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the
king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the
magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.
2:1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar
had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the
astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his
dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is
anxious to know the dream."
4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live
forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the
interpretation."
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm:
if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you
shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.
6 "However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall
receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me
the dream and its interpretation."
7 They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the
dream, and we will give its interpretation."
8 The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would
gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
9 "if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one
decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words
before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and
I shall know that you can give me its interpretation."
10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on
earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or
ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or
Chaldean.
11 "It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no
other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is
not with flesh."
12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave a
command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and
they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain
of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of
Babylon;
15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the
decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known
to Daniel.
16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he
might tell the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning
this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with
the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So
Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and
ever, For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and
raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those
who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the
darkness, And light dwells with Him.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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