Hebrew 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. (Amplified)

As a student growing up, I was always content with ‘B’s.  There was a national test we took each year in school that indicated that I was capable of better than that but I was set in my ways.  In college the same continued – I was doing okay but just wanted to get through my courses.  Then in my junior year I became a Christian.  Studies took a back seat to prayer meetings, Bible studies, witnessing, conferences and other Christian activities.  My grades sank and I ended up on academic probation.

At the end of my junior year I went to Colombia on a short-term mission trip.  There the Lord gave me a ‘major’ revelation that He wasn’t glorified if I flunk out of school.  I needed to get my degree if for no other reason than to honor my parents and the sacrifices they had made in my behalf.  Needless to say, I repented and went on to graduate.

Several years later the Lord made it clear that I was to pursue graduate school.  (PTL I had my BS degree!)  I pursued going to Wheaton.  As part of the application process I had to take something called a Graduate Record Exam (GRE).  It is like the SAT or ACT for college graduates.  I got a GRE study book and seriously prepared for the exam.  Fortunately I did well and was accepted by the Grad School.

When meeting with my advisor for the first time, he noted that my GRE score was high and exclaimed, “You are capable of excellence!  I’m expecting ‘A’s out of you!”  This led to one of the most life-changing communications to me from the Lord.  I did not hear an audible voice but He could not have communicated more clearly to me.

The message I received from Him was this:  “As long as you think you are only capable of mediocrity you will be content with mediocrity.  You are capable of excellence and I am holding you accountable for excellence!”  Needless to say, I responded.  For the first time in my life I got ‘A’s!

Unfortunately, so many Christians have unknowingly accepted the lie of mediocrity in our relationship with Jesus.  We are content with so much less than He wants us to have.  We read about wonderful things in the Bible or the moving testimonies of others but don’t think we can experience a relationship with God like that.

The message that God gave me regarding my studies applies to all of us in our relationship with Him.  Every Christian is capable of experiencing excellence in their Christian life – and He is holding us accountable for it.  He expects us to respond with faith to His word and His Spirit and seriously pursue Him.  When we do, we experience the excellence that comes with diligently seeking Him.