Above & Beyond: How God Exceeds Our ExpectationsSample

Outdo In Honor

In relationships, the tendency is often to follow the path of least resistance or to merely offer the minimum required to foster healthy interaction. We are called for more than that and to serve at an elevated level that honors the other. What if we tried to out-serve each other? How much differently would the world function if the competition was who could honor who the most?

Jesus said in John 13:35, “all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.” I find it interesting that it doesn’t say ‘whoever donates more money to the church’ or ‘whoever memorized the most scripture or has a degree in Theology. We can all prove we are followers of Christ by how we live and love. This isn’t intended to be a fluffy, Kumbaya message but to challenge all of us to be better. To do better in lighting that fire within us to see others’ needs before our own.

It is as simple as shifting our focus onto serving, honoring, blessing, and loving someone else. Going above and beyond the average standard of just being nice, at best, is the moral compass that changes our society. The secret sauce to relational success is creating a cultural rhythm that selflessly steps into the skin of others (figuratively speaking, of course). We might surprise ourselves when we step out of our comfort zone and outdo one another in honor.