Daniel 6:3 – “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” NKJV

Over the past few years, we have heard a lot about American Exceptionalism with regard to politics.  However, “exceptionalism” or “excellence” is something we have or should have been hearing in the Church for centuries.  Those terms should describe Christians, their work ethic, conduct, deportment, relationships, business dealings, and their private, personal, public, and spiritual life.  In Christ, who is the epitome of Excellence, we should manifest it in our lives.  We are “in Him,” and as John declared in 1 John 4:17 – “…as He is, so are we in this world.”

Daniel rose to the pinnacle of success and leadership because of this spirit in him.  That spirit was in him because, as we saw in the first chapter of Daniel that he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself….” 

In the New Testament, we find the words of our Lord telling us to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness….”  If God is first in our lives and we seek Him more than anything else, His Spirit will intermingle with our spirit, and we will exhibit or manifest “excellence” and thus demonstrate “exceptionalism.”  It is not a pride thing but an obedience thing!  It is not our ability but His. Indeed, we could do nothing without Him, but we can do all things in Him!

It is time that we, the Body of Christ, make the commitment to place God first above everything.  It is time that we seek to allow the Holy Spirit to have such free reign in our lives that He can “manifest” Jesus through us so that the world can be impacted by God’s Love, Grace, Peace, and Power.  It is time that we realize that we are not permanent residents of this planet, and as temporary sojourners, we have an obligation to the world, the lost, to proclaim The Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed!

As with Daniel, when we do this, enemies will come out of the woodwork to attack, discredit, and tear us down, but like Daniel, we will overcome if we remain focused, committed, and purposed in our lives.  We can live the “Abundant Life” in this life and reach this generation with the Gospel of Christ.  Does that mean that we never engage in other activities other than spreading the Gospel – NO!  Does it mean that the Gospel of the Kingdom is most important – YES! 

I am thankful that we still have a Free Country where we can worship God according to the dictate of our hearts and be a launching pad for the Gospel to go around the world.  Could that change?  Absolutely but God doesn’t, and even if we are persecuted, imprisoned, or killed for the sake of the Gospel, which is a nominal cost with regard to reaching our generation for Christ!

The ministry God has used me in for most of my adult life has been to reach reached people and help establish them in the Kingdom, so they are “equipped” to labor in God’s Harvest!  I have, for years, ministered to leaders, and as my good friend Dennis Goldsworthy-Davis of San Antonio has said, “When leaders lead, people follow.” 

It is time to “lead,” “follow,” or “get out of the way.”  The time is Now!  I long to see the True Church rise to fullness and exhibit The Excellent Spirit as Daniel did.  As that transpires, we will see the greatest ingathering harvest that has been recorded and the greatest time of persecution running parallel to it.

Are we ready?  Are we willing?  Will we allow God to do it through us?  May God bless you as you go through your day!