Jump Start # 1894

2 Peter 1:5 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge.”

Our verse today comes from the series of expressions often called the Christian virtues. These verses define the character and the heart of a disciple of Jesus. There are eight specific qualities listed here, beginning with faith and ending with love. These are not only connected to each other but they seem to progressive in nature. It all starts with faith. Without faith, the others won’t follow. Peter also tells us that these things are to be supplied or added. They are not natural. They are choices that a follower of Christ makes. Which tells us that some won’t do it. Some won’t manifest these qualities and therefore their lives will not truly reflect Christ as it should.

Today, we want to focus on the second character, “Moral Excellence.” The word “virtue” is a common translation of this expression. We often refer to the woman described in Proverbs 31 as the “virtuous woman.” For some today, “virtue” seems old fashioned and being a fuddy duddy.

Moral Excellence—two words. Excellence, the best. Doing things well. Morals—our standards. Morals influence our choice of clothing. It influences our choice of words. Our body language and even being a flirt falls under morals. It’s pretty obvious that the world has given up on morals. Folks will say anything and wear nothing about all the time. Modesty is gone. Being embarrassed doesn’t happen. The language is shocking. The clothing is shocking. The attitudes are shocking. From the movies to TV shows to music, decency is gone and the improper and inappropriate have become the norm. Sex before marriage. Raw and obscene talk. Immodesty. And this too often describes the local high school, that is simply following mainstream U.S.A.

We are called to be different. Moral Excellence. Raise the bar. Expect better. Be better. Don’t settle for second place. Excellence. Don’t go for the consolation prize. Excellence. We need to teach this in our churches and we need to show this in our homes. It begins young. If we don’t teach them moral excellence, our children will quickly learn to follow the crowd, which tends settle for the easy and the fun. What is best and what is right doesn’t enter the minds of most folks.

Moral Excellence in our clothing. Simply stated, we must be modest. Adam and Eve wore leaves and God clothed them with animal skins. The world wants to go back to the fig leaves. Modesty. The more skin you show the less godly character you are revealing. Your clothes reflects your faith. This is why faith comes before moral excellence. The more skin you show the more you send the wrong message. Excellence. Remember? This makes shopping hard. Manufactures are not into moral excellence. They want you to look hot, available and sexy. Parents must take the lead in helping their children learn modesty. This is hard when someone is looking for a bridal dress. You may have to add pieces to it. God doesn’t give you a pass that you can be immodest because you are in a wedding. Excellence.

Moral excellence in our behavior with one another. Flirting is part of the dating process. But too much touching leads to too much affection. Those who are married ought to only flirt with their spouses and no one else. Office flirting leads to office affairs. Excellence. Moral excellence. Some conversations are off limits and you do not need to participate in them because they are neither moral nor excellent. “Oh, we’re just having fun,” is no reason to drop your character and turn off your light that you ought to be shinning. Excellence. Excellence in your words. Excellence in your behavior. Excellence in your influence and impressions that you leave. When dating, moral excellence. Observe the “Out of bounds” that God places around the body that is only offered to the person that you are married to. A boy that pushes the limits or a girl that is willing to go to far, is not the excellent choice. Things will happen and they won’t be moral or excellent. Why settle for someone who ignores God on this. If they will do that, will they ignore God on worship? Salvation? Excellence. Look for it and be that yourself. Have fun together but keep the excellence as a standard. Anyone that won’t appreciate that nor show that ought to hit the road.

Moral excellence in our dealings with one another. That takes care of lying, doesn’t it? That will kill deception. That will make our business dealings above board. No cheating to make a few more dollars. No with holding what we know is wrong so the sale goes through. Moral Excellence. Doing what is right. Treating one another right. This some times is even missing among brethren. The church feels it’s time for a change in preaching. That happens. Preachers come and go. Be excellent in how you handle that. Go beyond what is expected. The same goes for the preacher. He feels it’s time to leave. Then leave honorably. Don’t start another church around the block. Don’t leave slinging mud and being ugly. Don’t make demands. Don’t go out as a crybaby. Moral excellence.

Excellence means the best. We ought to give our best and we ought to expect the best. Give our best when worshipping God. Give our best when doing things. Give our best when living for Jesus. Add this to your faith. Supply this. How?

Look to Jesus. The corrupted world wants to bring Jesus into the mud. The Gospels won’t allow that. Jesus was around many women. Bent over woman. Woman at the well. Mary Magdalene. Mary and Martha. The adulterous woman. The Canaanite woman. In all these occasions, there is not one hint that Jesus was inappropriate. Excellence among them. Moral among them. No off color jokes. No in appropriate touching. No suggestive language. No teasing. No flirting. Nothing that someone could make that was less than excellent.

Do what Jesus did. Follow His example.

Use your faith. This is why faith comes before virtue. Your faith reminds you of who you are and where you are going. Your faith connects you to Christ. To your faith, you add virtue. You build upon that faith. You grow that faith. You become more and more like a disciple of Jesus.

Excellence in morals. Virtue. God expects that. Don’t settle. Rise to the best that God wants from you.

Roger