IMG_0442

Isn’t it strange how words are used for a long period of time, and then become unfashionable and are seldom heard of again?

Words like chaste and cavalier, abomination and zealot. 2 Peter 1:5 says:

Make every effort to add to your faith moral excellence, and to moral excellence knowledge.

‘Excellence’ is a word we hear often.

There are courses that take one from mediocre to excellent.
We strive for excellence in everyday life.
Learners have ‘excellent’ stickers pasted in their books.

Excellence—that which is better than anything, so good, so outstanding that it has no equal—is what many of us strive for.

The word moral is a little more tricky to understand, especially if it is translated as virtue, another old-fashioned word that is not often used in everyday conversation.

It’s interesting that Peter urges us to add ‘knowledge’ to ‘moral excellence’.

Now this knowledge is not what one would learn in the classroom or at university, but it is knowledge about God that is learnt from reading His word. We all have some idea of what is right, and what is wrong, and often refer to this as our conscience.

However, as we study the Bible and learn more about God and His character, this added knowledge should lead us on to moral excellence. Moral excellence should permeate our thinking, the values by which we live—our attitudes, goals and even the priorities that we establish throughout the day.

But what does it mean to have moral excellence added to our faith moment by moment?

Does one who is morally excellent stick to a list of do’s and don’ts?
Or is it something that we have to find somewhere, somehow?

Moral excellence is a standard, based on God’s word, by which every decision, every thought, every word, every action and every relationship is to be measured. Because moral excellence doesn’t come naturally, we have to work diligently to achieve it, and need God’s help to do so. It’s amazing that the One who created us knew this and has given us everything we need to be able to live a Godly life.

So how do we move from morally mediocre to morally excellent?

  • Study the Bible to learn more about God and what characteristics He wants to see in our lives. With a precise knowledge we can imitate Him more readily.
  • Test and choose to follow only those things that are morally excellent by God’s standards. What we watch on television and what we read; our conversations and how we behave at work and in our homes should be radically different when measured against God’s holiness, His goodness and patience .
  • Link up with friends at church and in the work situation who will help and encourage moral excellence.
  • Ask God for help. He loves to equip His children with the tools that lead to holiness. The Holy Spirit is always there to counsel, lead and give strength to do what is right.
  • Never ever forget the love that God has for you and learn to share that with others.

Shann de Smidt

Shann lives with her husband on a smallholding outside of Pretoria. She teaches four and five year olds and is the principal of a school in Pretoria. She has written articles for newspapers and had school textbooks published but recent writing has been school newsletters! Spending time with children and grandchildren, growing cymbidiums, reading, studying and creating unique jewelry fill spare moments.