Deliberate Mediocrity by Jon Jones

Tonight we hear from another one of my great sons Jon Jones (J2) who is married to my youngest daughter, Rachel. Jon is Worship Director at Christian Life Center, Tinley Park and is also director of Atmosphere of Heaven Worship Ministry. I believe you will enjoy his insightful words. Be sure and check in everyday this week – the men are speaking up!

God Bless You,
Maria

What is Deliberate Mediocrity? Some of you are already ahead of me and know where I’m going…… Self examination time again (I know our self exam times are challenging, but we have to challenge each other to grow and allow Him to be seen Brighter in our lives)………

Examine how you work on your job. Do you do everything with a spirit of excellence, getting to work on time (before you need to be there so you are prepared to work when your time starts) and give 100% daily, going above and beyond the call? Or are you Deliberately Mediocre? Trying to get away with everything that the job will allow you to get away with…. Doing just enough to “keep the boss of your back.” Deliberately doing just enough to get by?

Examine how you treat your family. Do you go out of your way to be a blessing to them, sacrificing time and efforts, pushing away pride and giving 100% no matter how they treat you? Or do you do just enough to get by, spending a little time with the family, helping when you feel like it, forgiving when it’s convenient, doing just enough to “keep your spouse/family off your back?”

Examine how you seek God!!!! Do you seek Him like He is the Bread of Life, knowing that you can’t live without Him, forsaking everything else to know Him better, treating Him like He is the MOST IMPORTANT ENTITY in your life? Or… you know…. Just spend “enough time,” giving Him leftover time, leftover finances, doing “just enough” (Which is not enough, as we all find out)……?

We are to be like Him in every area of our lives, giving in abundance, going above and beyond the call…. One scripture that sums it up says that everything we do, in word or in deed, do it as unto the Lord. But if we are not seeking Him fervently, diligently, and giving Him our best, we can not and will not give our whole heart in other areas. Remember, it is He who empowers us to do His Will. But we have to allow Him to do it by giving ourselves to Him!

Deliberate Mediocrity. This is just another area where we are conformed to this world, and do things they way the world does and handle things the way the world handles it. Work diligently, as if The Boss (Jesus) was standing with you every day all day (because if He’s your Savior, He is with you ALL OF THE TIME), not taking short-cuts and not giving less than 100%; Give wholeheartedly to your family, of your time, your ATTENTION, your finances, your LIFE, like you want your family to give to you; and above all, seek Him, chasten after Him, pant for His Word, give Him the greatest Worship, yourself, consume the Word and be transformed…. Then we can really show the world Him!

Be Blessed,
j2