The World’s Best
Devotion - April 17: A reflection on how amazing our God is and how humble we remain in the sight of the world. We boast through our life.
Devotion
Have you ever had something that someone proclaimed to be “The World’s Best…”
Any time I see these sorts of signs, my mind immediately goes to the scene in the beloved Will Ferrell Christmas Move, Elf. When Ferrell’s character, Buddy, is exploring New York he comes by a shop that proclaims “World’s Best Coffee.” When he sees the sign he goes in and gives a joyous celebration to the staff. Later in the movie he tries coffee in his dad’s office and hates it. Then when he takes Jovie on their “date,” he takes her to the diner and she tries the coffee (she was highly unimpressed when she did).
Now y’all know my affinity for coffee, so I probably won’t be taking coffee advice from the movie Elf. However, it does make me wonder when people proclaim something being “World’s Best…”
I don’t demean the statement, most of it is probably marketing strategy to build their brand. Even the college I went to (Randolph-Macon) is situated in Ashland, Va, a town that proclaims themselves “The Center of The Universe.”Hyperbole is often a tactic used in marketing and branding to help build a brand and get eyeballs on it, get people to notice, and get coverage for their cause, business, etc.
However, I think as we see in Elf, there is proclaiming to have/be the best and to actually deliver on that result. Sometimes the expectations may let down on the experience. Now I don’t think this is a manner to call us to undersell ourselves (I think we all have something to celebrate). However, there is a manner of humility when we do so, knowing the work that God is continuing to do in us.
In Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthian Church, we read:
“But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”. — 2 Corinthians 12:6-9
Paul is proclaiming the difference between proclaiming to be “the best” (or in a more Christian theological understanding “perfect”) and actually living as if you are earnestly striving after it. Paul is quick to note these “thorns in his flesh.” We are never given details, but these “imperfections” (as they were viewed by Paul), we made perfect, made whole, in God’s great and abounding grace.
We are all works in progress. I believe we can all, in Christ, claim “perfection,” because truly Christ’s love has made us perfect. This though, is not a point of boasting, it is a matter of living. It is a matter of showing this great love and grace to others. We want others to experience what we have experienced, and so that which is making us perfect, is what we share to help others experience perfection. This is the nature of humility.
Then to couple with this humility is the growing love of God that works within what we think are weaknesses, for that is where God’s true power lives. When we feel insufficient, God makes us sufficient. When we feel imperfect, God brings into us perfection. When we feel weak, God can bring us strength. The growth and sanctification we experience in faith, is hearing the words of Paul, and trusting the work of God, to continue in perfecting the person God already knows we can be.
Reflection Questions
Where is God working in the growing spaces of your life?
Are you earnestly striving after perfection and do you hope to be made perfect in this life?
Prayer
Holy and Gracious God, it is in your spirit that we truly know the grace that is present in creation. It is through your witness and presence that we know our own worth, and thereby the worth of all across the world. Help us to live humbly in your love and to proclaim and live with the boldness that your love offers us. AMEN!!!