Ready:
"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands."
-Malachi 1:10
Set:
In the 2007 season, there has been a lot of attention on the Chicago Cubs, but not the kind they were hoping for after spending $300 million in the off season to improve the team. In a frustrating string of games, the Cubs lost six straight, saw two of its players in a fist fight that sent one to the hospital, and had a dirt-kicking tirade by manager Lou Piniella, which led to an ejection and indefinite suspension. After his ejection, Piniella said, "I'm fed up with some of the play we've had on the field."
I applaud Lou Piniella's unwillingness to accept mediocre baseball from his club, but his methods are not what I would deem appropriate. The point, however, is that he will not accept anything but their best.
The Bible tells of a time in which the Lord was a little fed up with the mediocre sacrifices the Israelites were bringing to Him. In fact, He told them they might as well close the temple because their sacrifices were useless and He would not accept anything but their best.
Today, I encourage you to not allow yourself to settle for less than your best both in competition and in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Consider it unacceptable! The Lord certainly does.
Go:
1. How do you deal with mediocrity from those on your team? Do you hold yourself to the same standards?
2. What is one area of your life in which you are settling for less than your best? (Be specific.)
3. What will you do about it? (Pray about it, then write it down and follow through.)
Workout:
Malachi 1:6-14
Proverbs 25:4
Isaiah 58:1-4
Jeremiah 14:10