Don't Settle for Less Than the Best

Why is it so many settle instead of achieving? They give up on the best because it just seems too hard to achieve. For many it starts all the way back in elementary school. On the back of the report card the teacher writes, “A smart child, but just doesn’t work to their capability.” Learned habits start early in life. A parent has to take the time to teach those good habits and encourage them in their kids.

Paul was doing that to the Philippians (his spiritual kids) in today’s scripture. He was taking the time to give them good teaching of how to have their best life … a life pleasing to God. I’m sharing it here in the Message translation.

Philippians 2:12b-16 MSG - Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. #paulaandthebible #helpforyourdailywalk