Do Not Lower God’s Standard

“To the measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ” — Ephesians 4:13.

God loves us so much that He will not let us settle for less than the fullness of His will. One day we will bless our faithful Teacher, who held firmly to the standard and then gave us the strength and grace to reach it. He did not excuse us from the task until we had fulfilled all His glorious will.

Let us be unyielding with ourselves. Let us take seriously exactly what God means, diminishing neither His promises nor His commandments. Let us keep the standard high and not rest until we reach it. “Let God be true and every human being a liar.”

Even if we fail a hundred times, let us not adjust God’s ideal to what we have managed to achieve. Instead, let us be like the brave ensign who stood ahead of his company, waving the banner. When the soldiers called him back, he raised it higher and cried, “Do not bring the standard back to the regiment; bring the regiment up to the colours!”

Forward, forward, leave the past behind you,
reach toward the things ahead.
All the Promised Land lies before you;
God has greater blessings still in store.