The Gates of Change Begin with “Standards”
Ask yourself that since we are the people of God, then what are our levels of quality??
As Believers, we cannot allow anybody else to set our standards. After all, Jesus Christ-our Lord has decreed that we are the “light of the world!” He has called us to set the standards; and the standards we set, are to be those that are set by Him—those in His Word!!!
In order for Jesus to be the source which we can be strong in faith and where He is there for us; to guide us, then His word must be the standard.
We cannot cause harm to His reputation and credibility by spreading false and negative information (poisoning the well), nor live according to other levels of quality, that is contrary to His…and then complain about the water. (Jesus, the living water)
We must draw a blood line in the sand, and decree that God’s standards are our standards, and that we will not apologize for having them!
Even though at times, we don’t always live up to God’s standards, we endeavor and press forward for the mark of the higher call, in Christ Jesus, and must not be intimidated concerning them.
How can any of us expect God to bless us with success, when we don’t have His standard of excellence? Do an introspection of your life. Who set your standards?
—Who set your standard for being a woman?
—Who set your standard of what it means to be a Christian?
—Who told you these things—that if you don’t drink, “openly” engage in sexual activity and just show up to church, every now and then, while trying not to cuss…that you can consider yourself a Christian?
—Who told you that you could show up for God when it’s “convenient”—when it doesn’t interfere with your business pursuits?
—Who set the standards for what it takes to be happy, or even how to have a good day? Or what success should look like?
There is a higher standard! Gods!!
Sometimes…as the church, we put standards on the world that we ourselves aren’t even a typical example of! We can’t even figure out ‘racial reconciliation’ within the context of the community of faith, but then we want to judge it, when the world does it.
God always has a remnant who will raise the standards for what God requires His world to be.
How can any of us expect God to bless us with continual success, when we don’t have His standard of excellence?
Many times our expectation, is for God to give us strength—concerning a standard that he has not set. How can we, as believers, expect Him to bless our nation when we have not embraced His standard of equality, ourselves? We allow injustices, prejudices, oppression, and stereotypes to go unchecked, and then turn around and ask God to bless our world.
He is not calling us to “reach” the standard—only to ‘raise’ the standard!!!
Church has become a place where now, we bring God just any old thing! (half done, inferior, low class, mediocre, indifference.) When it comes to God’s church, people tend to think that if anything is done for God, it doesn’t have to be good, nor excellent! 🤷🏽♀️
Let’s remember that we don’t endeavor to keep His standards just to earn his love; nor forget that commitment to Him doesn’t mean that we keep a set of rules, that will keep Him loving us, but rather it’s about our living right…because He already does love us! He has called us His children!
As a business and ministry leader, I have had to dismiss over 75% of our Ministry Board of Directors because they evidently felt my standards were too high; they were not consistently in the word in order to help the team in making wise decisions, they wanted no time constraints, no proper commitments, did not properly prepare (nor did they want to), legal, required records and reports-(if they prepared one at all); they were oftentimes late with too many excuses, unprepared, and expected me to carryout their responsibilities as a member of our Executive Board! (talk about misrepresenting, lying and being a novice!)
Well one thing they did get right—my standards are high—because they were the ones set by God; not just requirements to sit on an Executive Board, but standards God set for us as Kingdom believers! They wanted the affluence and influence, but not the accountability! They simply wanted to be a nominal leader without real responsibility!
I constantly had to remind, these “Christian professionals,” of the importance of the work involved (a Woman’s Resource Centre for abused and economically disenfranchised women), and that I didn’t want team members showing up to be empowered by my anointing and just to hear me speak! I expected them to operate in their functioning abilities, and submit their gift, and do it as unto the Lord.
I understand a lot of people cannot work with me, because I do not compromise my assignment, the word of God, my stance, my position in the kingdom, nor allow anything and anybody into my life to cause hurt, harm, chaos and an embarrassment to the Kingdom. (in the past I have had my share of setbacks because of this one thing)
I ‘am’ glad however, that they recognized that my god-ordained standards would probably hinder their dissident behavior, lack of motivation, and unprincipled disregard for the rules of God’s standards.
Yes…I have standards—God’s standards!! I strive to raise the standard for myself-and to not put forth any effort to make someone do something to which it will not cost them anything.
Excellence is very important to me. I have always endeavored to not offer anything to the Lord, to which it will not cost me anything. There will always be a cost to follow the living God; but God is worth it!!
I will never forget that my strength comes from my honoring-His standard of integrity—and not those of my culture! God always has a remnant who will raise the standards, for what He desires for His world. I am one of those remnants!
“When the enemy comes in…like a flood then the Lord lifts up a ‘standard’.”