Refuse to be Average

"Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will." Aiden Wilson Tozer

The dictionary defines the word "average" as typical, common and ordinary. Those words definitely identify what I choose not to be as a Christian!

Rev. 3: 15-16, (NIV) "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Lukewarm water makes a disgusting drink. The church in Laodicea had become lukewarm and distasteful and repugnant. The believers didn't take a stand for anything, indifference had led to idleness. By neglecting to do anything for Christ, the church had become hardened and self-satisfied, and it was destroying itself. There is nothing more disgusting than a halfhearted, in-name-only Christian who is self-sufficient. As Christians we should never settle for following God halfway or accept to be average for the Kingdom of God. Allow Christ to ignite your faith!

Typically we don't settle for being "average" in any other area of our lives. We don't intentionally participate in sports competitions to lose. We don't step onto the golf course with the thought of losing the game. We don't go to work each day with the attitude and mindset of being ordinary. If so, we may be surprised when it is time for the annual salary review and we receive a zero pay increase for the upcoming year! We don't expect our pastor to preach an ordinary or average sermon on Sunday mornings. And we will not be satisfied for a long period of time if our church is typical church as usual. We expect more than average in most areas of our lives.

God also expects more than average from you and I. Mediocrity. complacency, ordinary, and average has no place in God's Kingdom. If we are truly sold out and on fire for the Kingdom of God how can we possibly justify average as part of our DNA as a Christian? Jesus certainly was everything but average when He walked on this earth.

God has equipped us with many gifts and talents. He is calling us to fulfill His will for the Kingdom. I don't believe being average will accomplish the task. He equips us to do His will if we totally surrender our lives to Him and choose to be obedient to His calling. If we have managed to accomplish great things for the Lord, passion reminds us that there is yet more to be accomplished. Phil. 3:14 tells us that we are to press on toward the goal to win the prize.

Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all Paul's energy. This is an excellent example for us. We should not allow anything to take our eyes off our goal of knowing Christ and completing His will for our lives. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective and more than average Christians.

Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." You are to love God with how much of your heart - how much of your soul - how much of your mind? All of it. Every last tidbit. God does not want your complacency. He wants you to crave passion for the things of God. What if Jesus was complacent? What about your salvation? We have a Savior who loves us. He went to the cross for us with passion. He wasn't complacent about what He was supposed to do for us. Why should we be complacent or average about our commitment to Him?

Dear Jesus, remove the blinders from our eyes so that we can see those things that are holding us back from doing what you have called us to do. Help us God to be above average for the Kingdom of God. May the Holy Spirit give us boldness to preach the truth and demonstrate Godliness in all areas of our lives. Help us Lord to give the devil a good ole' kick in the comfort seat! Lord, mold us into the people we need to be to further your Kingdom.

Let's go friends! God has an awesome plan. Let's pursue excellence and soar as high as God will take us. The journey is exciting!