There’s a traffic jam on the freeway of the extra mile because the average exit after the first mile and only a few cars travel extra mile.

In Genesis chapter 24 we read the amazing story of Rebekah – whose spirit of excellence positioned her to be a part of the genealogy of Jesus.

When Abraham sent a servant to find a suitable wife for his son there was a standout quality that the servant looked for among all the women – excellence.

Rebekah was a young girl who had traveled to a well to collect water for her family, when asked by the servant for a drink, she offered to collect water for his camels also.

I was once heard someone describe this story with amazing detail – there were 10 camels, they’ve just come 500 miles, they each hold 40 gallons, that’s a total of 400 gallons of water and Rebekah’s probably not older than 16.

There is only a well, no hose or pump, so Rebekah has to draw water using a pitcher or bucket.  Going on the basis that her pitcher holds five gallons, water weighs seven pounds per gallon, which makes it 35 pounds she has to pick up each time.

At that rate of consumption that’s 80 draws from the well, which works out to be four hours, minimum, if she doesn’t take a break.

Essentially Rebekah said to this servant, “I’m going to inconvenience myself so I can make a difference in your life.”

Rebekah didn’t have to go that extra mile and feed his camels but she did.  It was her extra effort that changed her life.  People who live an average life only give what’s expected of them and nothing else.

When you die you should be able to look back and say, “thank God I gave more than I received.”  I heard it said that you’ll only be remembered for two things, the problems you solved and the problems you caused.

As far as Rebekah knew all she was going to get that night was a sore back and to be home late for dinner. She didn’t know that on those camels was gold, silver and linen that was a tribute to her from a wealthy father who was looking for a bride for his elect son.

Go the second mile.  That little extra effort could be the step that turns you to the fulfillment of your dream.

A small leak can sink a big ship.

The mentality of “it’s good enough” is settling for average. Don’t settle for average.

When Michael Angelo was painting a hidden part of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome – a part that would not be seen from the ground – a friend visiting with him asked why he was giving such minute detail to an obscure part that nobody will see.  Angelo responded, “God will see it – I’m not painting this for the pope I’m painting it for God.”

If you take that kind of excellence into your work you’ll have better output and better testimonies, as people want to know why you are like you are.

What’s your attitude? Are you doing everything you put your hand to for the glory of God? Are you doing it with excellence?

Paying attention to detail is the key to being extraordinary in an ordinary world.

Daniel’s reputation had preceded him.  The following chapter reveals that the governors could not find fault with Daniel, as he had distinguished himself above all Babylon. Good news travels fast in the world of average.

In horse racing, a horse that can run one second faster than all of the other horses is worth millions of dollars.

Years ago the story was told how French down hill skier, Jean Claude Keeve who won the Olympic gold; he won by just three tenths of a second.  That tiny margin made a big difference – the following year his pay cheque was over $3 million while second place earned just $30, 000 as a ski instructor.

Just a little extra can distinguish you remarkably above average. Conformity is the shortest distance to acceptance in the crowd.

Proverbs 12:26 tells us, “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduces them”.

Our God is an excellent God and we ought to be people of excellence.

First, value excellence. When you value something you put a worth on it.  Jesus said your heart is where your treasure is.  He was highlighting how we spend our resource on things we value.

If you value excellence, give your absolute best to everything you do.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 begins, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”

When you fail to give your best, instead taking short cuts, you only cut yourself short.  You will pay eventually.  Value excellence in your life and it will outwork in all you put your hands to.

Psalm 8:1

The name of a person in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, denotes their personality or character.

Psalm 8:1 tells us that God is an excellent God and everything He does is excellent. He doesn’t do anything wrong, He does it right the first time.

God didn’t make the earth an average place – He made it excellent! He made man excellent.

God went beyond average. And that’s what excellence is about; it’s about going beyond the average.

If, as Ephesians 5:1 tells us, we are to be imitator of Him, then we too should be people of excellence.  Excellence should be the lifestyle of His people.

The word “EXCELLENCE” is derived from the word “excel” which means to go beyond average.

Leaders of excellence are those people who refuse to settle for the status quo. They are the people who see average as a place they want to keep in their rear-view mirror. They are the people who continually look for ways to stretch themselves, to get better and to do better! They are the people who set their sights on goals others haven’t even thought of. They are the people who shoot so high, even if they miss; they still go higher than everyone else. This is what sets them apart.

Where 100% is average you need to go beyond that if you are going to be a person of excellence.

Seize the day and go beyond average. 99.9% is not good enough. Some time ago I heard of some things that would happen if we settled for 99.9%

• 22, 000 cheques would be deducted from the wrong bank account in the next 60 minutes.
• 12 babies would be given to the wrong parents each day.
• 268, 500 defective tyres would be shipped this year.
• 2, 488, 200 books would be shipped with the wrong covers.
• 2 airliner landings each day would be unsafe.
• 18,322 pieces of mail would be mishandled in the next hour.
• 291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly this year.

Excellence is what puts the extra in ordinary in an ordinary world.

So, how do we achieve the extraordinary in an ordinary world?

Find out next post.

Mistakes don’t equal failure, if you learn how to benefit from them and remain positive in the face of adversity.

Here are four things to remember in the midst of a mistake:

BE POSITIVE
Don’t except your mistake as your lot in life, or ’such is life’.  This kind of mentality is negative and breeds victim mentality. Learn to see the good in everything.  Be a positive person with a positive worldview. Don’t look at life as a continuous succession of problems and a process of unfairness and oppression. Remain positive in the face of adversity.

LOOK FOR GOOD
People who do look for the good and possess a positive worldview see the world around them as filled with opportunities and possibilities.  They approach their lives, their work, ministry, relationships etc with optimism, cheerfulness and a general attitude of positive expectations.  They expect a lot and are rarely disappointed.

RECOGNISE OPPORTUNITY
When you know how to use mistakes as stepping stones, you quickly find yourself becoming the kind of person who welcomes obstacles and setbacks as opportunities to grow and move forward in life.  You view problems and mistakes as another lesson learned that will better position you for future influence.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR MISTAKES & LEARN
Mistakes become costly and painful to you and others when you refuse to accept that you have made a bad choice or decision.  As a result the consequences tend to become prolonged and compounded.

Learning from your mistakes is an essential skill that enables you to climb higher and see every mistake as a stepping stone taking you closer to the fulfillment of your dream.  You will become a creator of circumstances, rather than a creature of circumstances.

Many people are afraid to dream big, fearing it will never come to pass. Yet that concept in itself if is one that far from emulates God, the creator of dreams.  When we fail to dream big and, instead keep small what God intended for increase, we actually display a selfish mentality that says my dream is about me, not about God or those whom He wants to bless through the dream He has given me.

When God puts something in our heart or in our hands inevitably it’s not about us.  It’s about His eternal plan and purpose to bring the life changing message of Jesus to our world.

As people presenting the life-changing message of the Gospel we must do more than keep up with change – we must anticipate change and embrace it.  The future belongs to people who see possibilities before they become obvious. If you want to enlarge your potential you must change with the times…unless you’re big enough to change the times.

Often people get confused with their responsibility and other people.  Galatians 6: 5 tells us that we are each responsible for our own conduct.   That tells me that we are responsible to people not for them.

Ask yourself this question, “Why do I want to succeed?”  I hope your answer is to benefit other people?

God has created you to make a difference.  You have been blessed to be a blessing; empowered to empower – now go and fulfill that dream that God has for you.  He has a plan and a purpose for you life.  When you discover it, you will automatically seek to fulfill it and in turn enlarge you potential.