Give of your best to your Master. Howard Grose

Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth;
Armed with the sword of salvation, Join in the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example; His life for others He gave;
Give Him your loyal devotion, Give Him the best that you have."
— Words by Howard B. Grose, 1851-1939

A terrible plague has gripped Christianity for many years. This plague has ruined lives, families, and churches. What is it? It's the plague of mediocrity, and it runs rampant today. Mediocrity is defined as "the state of being of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance." It is living below our potential. It is giving just enough to God to ease our conscience but not enough to produce spiritual transformation.

GIVE GOD YOUR BEST.
Colossians 3:23 says, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Whether performing responsibilities at home, at work, at church, or whatever you do, always do your best. Do it "heartily," with all your heart. Whatever we do, whether it be great or small, easy or difficult, let's not be guilty of halfhearted effort. We must labor "as to the Lord." There is to be no division of the secular and the sacred. Everything we do as a Christian has a spiritual significance! Therefore, everything we do presents another opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

OUR BEST BRINGS GOD'S BEST.
Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Mediocre efforts yield mediocre results. God is looking for wholeheartedness. He is merciful and gracious and does not ask more of us than He is able to accomplish in and through us. Our problem is that we want great marriages and godly children with little effort. We want spiritual transformation and fruitful ministries with as little effort as possible. Beloved, let's wholeheartedly "present our bodies a living sacrifice." Then we will experience God's best on our behalf.

GOD GAVE HIS BEST.
John 3:16 says it well, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God gave His best when He gave His Son to redeem our soul from sin. It cost our Savior nothing less than His precious blood shed on the cruel cross of Calvary to pay the price for our sin debt to a holy God. Is He not worthy of our best, of our all? Let's rise out of our mediocrity and reach our full potential in Christ for His glory, for He is worthy of nothing less than our best! The last stanza of Mr. Grose's hymn says it well:

Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above:
Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin's ruin to save;
Give Him your heart's adoration, Give Him the best that you have."

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