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There’s a Chick-Fil-A by my son’s school that I frequent when I have time. I like to stop by for breakfast. Every single time I go, there’s a long line of customers who don’t mind waiting early in the morning. Yea, early in the morning people want their Chick-Fil-A fix, and so do I! What I’ve notice from each visit, is the service. Chick-Fil-A’s customer service is a five star service. They go beyond the norm of what’s expected.
It’s a great day at Chick-Fil-A. How may I serve you? It’s my pleasure to help. It’s no problem at all. Have a great day.
With a smile on their faces, the staff is continuously ready and willing to serve their customers. They stand on the Fast Food adage: The customer is always right. Even the way they package their food and present it to you, it’s always fresh and good. Each time I patron Chick-Fil-A, I’m impressed by their immaculate service.
Upon receiving my order the other day from Chick-Fil-A, I smiled within as I always do. Ah. So fresh and so good. Oh, I love these containers! Can someone say, “Reusable?” While mulling over the excellent service I was given once again, you know me, I begin to examine myself. I wondered about my service. What kind of service do I provide? How well do I serve? Do I serve with a spirit of excellence? What about in my personal life? How well do I serve my husband, my children, church, ministry and job? Most importantly, how well do I serve my Heavenly Father? Am I allowing everything I do to be done to His glory?
To be honest, my service stinks! Lately, I’ve been doing just enough to get by. I’ve been mediocre. I blame it on my new schedule. I blame it on how tired I am. I blame on the fact that my children are older. I blame my service on everything and everyone else, except the true malefactor, me. It’s me! My service in all those areas I’ve mentioned certainly needs improvement. And truthfully, lately I’ve been satisfied with just being mediocre. Being average. Being normal. I’m trying to be the typical person that I’m not. That’s not me! I’m not typical. And that’s not you. You are not average! There’s more that I need to do. More that you need to give. So much more is required of us. More that God wants from us. More of what He wants us to give.
But I say: More? I don’t have more. Well, it doesn’t feel like I have more to give. I’m presently doing and giving so much, too much! Right now, my plate is overflowing! I’m a full-time everything! How can God require more of me? And how can He not be satisfied with my service? But He is not and He’s requiring more. He wants more from me and more from you.
God has given me and you much gifts (Yes, I said it!), much talents. My sister, so much more is required of us. That is why we can’t be mediocre. No matter how hard we try. We are not ordinary. We can’t be and do just enough to get by. We can’t be average. God didn’t design us this way! He has placed greatness, power and victory inside of us (1 John 4:4). He has given us the ability to speak and our words can make things happen! God has given us His authority to go and be the difference in this cold and dark world (Matt. 28:19-20). He’s asking us to pour out our gifts and talents to bless others, to serve others, to do more. We cannot be run-of-the-mill. We’re not ordinary. We can’t be something that we’re not.
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you-from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (1 Pet. 2:9-10, MSG)
Let me encourage you while encouraging myself. Be all that God has created you to be. You are not the old average Joe. No, you’re not! And don’t let anyone tell you that you are. When God made you He wanted to give you something special, something more. Therefore, He gave you an extra dose of Himself, making you an EXTRAordinary person (Gen. 2:7)! You have been set apart to do exceptional things.
Now, with that extra dose of greatness, be brilliant for God. Be MORE.
During your quiet time, read First Peter 2 and be motivated to be exceptional for God!
LET’S WALK IN FREEDOM TOGETHER & IMPACT THE WORLD!
Rhovonda L. Brown is speaker and author of two bestsellers, Walking in Freedom!: A Thirty-Day Devotional Journey for Women and At Least Say, “Thank You!”: An 8-Day Devotional Plan for a Grateful Heart.