Quick Charge Your Faith - Excellence

The Christian life redefines what it means to live well.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men… You are serving the Lord Christ.” — Colossians 3:23–24 (ESV)

What do you picture when you hear the word excellence? For some, it might be trophies or honors. For others, it’s a reputation for high performance, a sense of pride in the final result. But biblically speaking, excellence isn’t about prestige or applause. It’s about the kind of character that takes shape when ordinary tasks are carried out with faithfulness and integrity.

In the world of sports or military service, excellence is often tied to outcomes. Training is rigorous. Standards are clear. There’s a reward system to recognize achievement. There can be all of that in the Christian life, but there is never only that. For a Christian, excellence isn’t measured by medals or status. It’s revealed in the quiet work of staying faithful when no one notices, and in the courage to make honest choices when shortcuts seem easier.

The Christian pursuit of excellence begins at a different starting point. It doesn’t come from climbing toward God’s approval—it flows from the grace that comes down to us. The gospel invites broken people into something greater than self-improvement. It offers new life. And from that new life comes a new aim: to reflect the goodness of the One who called us.

That doesn’t mean the journey is smooth. Most believers quickly discover that the Christian walk includes missteps, doubts, and spiritual growing pains. In his book Irresistible Faith, pastor Scott Sauls gives voice to that struggle:

“I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt. I hope and get discouraged... I sometimes feel like I am more part of the problem than I am part of the solution.”

Those things that the world might see as signs of failure are often signs of formation in the Christian life. Christ is still turning the world’s idea of “normal” upside down. The Spirit is shaping us in places we often can’t see. Excellence, in this sense, is not about arriving. It’s about continuing.

Charles Spurgeon put it this way:

“It is not your hold of Christ that saves you—it is Christ; it is not your joy in Christ that saves you—it is Christ.” (Morning and Evening, Jan. 6)

So when the Christian life feels uneven, remember what’s true: God finishes what He starts. The same grace that welcomed you will also sustain you. And in time, the habits of the heart will begin to reflect the hand that’s been shaping them all along. In Christ, excellence isn’t about being polished, perfect, or impressive—it’s about being faithful, willing, and led.

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