The meaning of excellence is to be outstanding or extremely good. As children of God, we are all aware that we are called to operate from a place of excellence. The Bible shows us how Daniel had in him the spirit of excellence. We see a reference to Daniel’s excellence in Daniel 5:12 and in Daniel 6:3. It is this spirit of excellence that caused Daniel to be preferred and elevated above his peers: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm”. The Bible also exhorts us to fill our minds with things that are excellent: “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).
While we all operate from a place of excellence, notice that the Bible mentions a place that goes beyond this: a place of “more excellence”. When Cain and Abel brought their offerings to God as an act of worship, I believe Cain’s offering was an excellent one, but the Bible describes Abel’s offering as more excellent: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). Operating in the gifts of the Spirit is an excellent way to serve the Lord, but the Bible shows us a more excellent way: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Giving an offering to the Lord is an excellent act of worship, but giving to the Lord the first and the best will always be the “more excellent” offering. Serving the Lord with the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit is an excellent way to serve, but in the kingdom of God love will always be the more excellent way.
Let us remember that our Lord Jesus operated from a place of “more excellence”: “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry” (Hebrews 8:6), and we as believers in Jesus Christ have the ability to live our lives unto the Lord in a more excellent way.
Declaration: As a New Testament believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I have the ability to live my life as one who is “more excellent” in all my ways. As I pattern my life after Christ I will live as one who is “more excellent” before the Lord.
Scripture: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:4