STANDARDS...

What standard do you hold yourself to? The standard of your co-workers or your neighbors? Or perhaps it is the standard of your parents or your older siblings? Maybe it is even one of your heroes (real or fictional) or simply just your neighbor who seems to always be a step ahead of you? For most of my life my standards were defined by my peers and often placed my goals out of reach. I especially remember a time in 4th grade where I was the fastest runner in my class…right behind Mark Cox. Mark’s dad was a coach, so naturally when I played baseball, basketball, and even soccer…there was Mark Cox to steal the gold as his dad cheered him on. Mark and I weren’t enemies then or now, but I remember this aspect of our relationship more than anything else because I think that dynamic is what motivated me to strive to be better.

Just like Mark Cox challenged me, Christ challenges us to “…consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Heb. 10:24) In fact, when we serve in God’s family (the Church), he surrounds us with people who are better than us to stir up our competitive spirits and challenge us to do better, to be better. The difference between it becoming a rat race and iron sharpening iron requires that we understand a simple fact. As we mature in our faith we challenge one another, but we do not do it to become like one another. Our standard is not to be like a worship leader, a pastor, or an evangelist. It is to be like Jesus Christ. As we continue with our series on New Beginnings, we hope that you are surrounding yourself with those who challenge you. More than that though, we pray that you are looking towards the ultimate standard perfectly laid out before in you Christ.   

-Devin & Sarah Q.