Excellence

Our God exhibits excellence in all that He is or does. Likewise it was said of Jesus Christ, "He has done all things well," (Mark 7:37Mark 7:37
  37. And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.). Scripture is filled with descriptions of the excellence of the things of the Lord.

The Excellence of the Lord
The Name of the Lord is Excellent."O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, You who set Your glory above the heavens!" (Psalms 8:1Psalms 8:1
  1. O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.). "Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven," (Psalms 148:13Psalms 148:13
  13. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.).
His Lovingkindness is Excellent."How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings," (Psalms 36:7Psalms 36:7
  7. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.).
God′s Work is Excellent."Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth," (Isaiah 12:2–5Isaiah 12:2–5
  2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
  3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
  4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
  5. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.). "This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working," (Isaiah 28:29Isaiah 28:29
  29. This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.).
God′s Widsom is Excellent."Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things," (Proverbs 8:6Proverbs 8:6
  6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.). "That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge," (Proverbs 22:19–20Proverbs 22:19–20
  19. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
  20. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,).

Excellence Expected From God′s People
Christians are likewise expected to be those who possess an excellent character. It was said of Daniel that his contemporaries could observe in him "an excellent spirit," (Daniel 5:12Daniel 5:12
  12. Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.). God wants us to seek "a more excellent way," (I Corinthians 12:31I Corinthians 12:31
  31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.).
Our Morality is to be Excellent."Applying all diligence, in your faith, supply moral excellence," (II Peter 1:5II Peter 1:5
  5. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;). Murmuring, careless habits, trashy movies and reading material, crude talk, sporadic attendance at worship, etc. ail betray a lack of strong convictions. Peter cautioned Christians to "keep your behavior excellent" among those of the world,
(I Peter 2:12I Peter 2:12
  12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.).
It is Our Duty to Approve Excellent Things."And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and in all discernment; so that you may approve the things that are excellent; in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God," (Philippians 1:9–11Philippians 1:9–11
  9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
  10. That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
  11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.). As we increase in knowledge, we should be able to "approve" (properly distinguish) those things which are truly excellent. "A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit," (Proverbs 17:27Proverbs 17:27
  27. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.).
Our Minds Should Dwell on Excellent Things."Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things," (Philippians 4:8Philippians 4:8
  8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.).
We Should Carry Out Our Work for the Lord in an Excellent Way.I believe that God is looking for men and women who will go about His work with the enthusiasm and dedication that the business of His kingdom deserves. "Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," (Romans 12:11Romans 12:11
  11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;). David showed a zealous spirit when he described the temple by saying that a "house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent," (I Chronicles 22:5I Chronicles 22:5
  5. And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.).

A slothful, half–hearted spirit is not God′s standard. Solomon said it long ago, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might," (Ecclesiastes 9:10Ecclesiastes 9:10
  10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.). If something is worth doing (and surely the Lord′s cause is), then it is worth doing with all our dedication.