STEP IT UP A NOTCH!
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you receive from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God, just as you actually do, that you excel still more. ~1 Thessalonians 4:1
In August 2010, Rafael Nadal arrived at Flushing Meadows to compete at the U.S. Open as the reigning French and Wimbledon champion (the first man to win both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg did so in the days of wooden racquets). There was no doubt, both in the computer rankings and in the minds of all tennis players and experts, that he was the planet’s best and most dominant player. Armed with a combination of game, guts, and grit that more than intimidated his rivals, all marveled at him as the one who “had it all”….all, except Rafael himself. At that U.S. Open, a journalist surveying the pre-tournament practice sessions of the tournament’s top competitors watched one of Nadal’s practice sessions, and found him working on his serve – with an altered grip! In an effort to improve the pace and penetration on what he believed was the weakest part of his game, Nadal had come to the U.S. Open not to announce his dominance to the public, but with the gutsy intention of making improvements to what was the soundest of tennis arsenals. As the world’s best player and the heavy favorite to win at Flushing Meadows, Nadal was focused on one thing: excelling still more. It has often been said in the realm of competitive athletics that the only thing constant in a champion’s mindset is change. Every highly competitive athlete – regardless of the sport – understands that unless he continues to improve, the competition will eventually catch up and ultimately surpass him, leaving him in the dust. Every athlete knows the danger of complacency. And, must I say, every Christian should as well. Complacency in one’s walk with Jesus is one of the most widespread epidemics in the church today – amongst the leadership and the laymen, the pastors and the pastored, the ordained ministers and the occupational members. Even more dangerous is that it is as instinctive as it is deadly. It’s not hard to get people to be spiritually satisfied with where they’re at in their walks with the Lord. It’s not hard for faithful church members to feel arrogant about their recent victories and outwardly visible growth. It’s not hard for people to miss the fact that they have not yet reached perfection, but rather are still called to reach for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus.
The Thessalonian church, by all mean, was the model church. Should you have been in Paul’s position, what kind of an exhortation would you give to such a godly assembly? What would you say to fellow soldiers who were consistently working in faith, laboring in love, and continually steadfast in hope? What instruction would you leave such a congregation that sounded forth the word of the Lord in every place through their lives such that those places were in no need of your apostolic instruction? What word would you leave to a church that, amidst all tribulation, received the word with joy and fervently turned away from idols to serve the living God? To such a church, he says, “excel still more.”
In other words, “Step it up a notch!” They were not to be satisfied, complacent, or to simply “keep doing what they were doing” to the same degree. They were running well, but they were to run faster. They were fighting well, but they were to fight harder. Oh how you who are spiritually growing ought to take the same exhortation to heart. In your faith, be even more radical. Attempt even greater things for the Lord that cause all but the most committed believers to feel a little off balance. In your love, be even more sacrificial. After all that you have given to others, give more. Sacrifice more. Lay more of yourself down for the sake of the brethren. In your hope, be even more steadfast and anticipating. Strengthen your gaze towards heaven, and abound in joy over the anticipation of your eternal rewards even more than you are today. Grow firmer and sharper in your biblical convictions. Be satisfied not with your current knowledge of the Bible, but present yourself an even more accurate handler of God’s truth. Grow more fruitful in your character. Be satisfied not with your current image, but stay dissatisfied until Christ is fully formed in you. Grow more skillful in your competency in ministry. Be satisfied not with your current wisdom in dealing with people, in the fervency of your evangelism, in the depth of your discipleship of younger believers. Make more of an impact onto God’s people than you already are today. Grow deeper in your communion with God. Be satisfied not with your current level of intimacy with Jesus Christ, but discipline yourself further that your heart may gain a greater fear and adoration of the Lord. Let us shave off the extra weight, further tone our spiritual muscles, and run harder than we ever have before. For though we are growing, never will we stop being renewed until the last day. Thus, let us agonize and reach for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus! Let us, for the sake of the gospel and the prize of knowing Christ, step it up a notch!
