THINK ABOUT WHATEVER IS EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1,13  

Excellence is not about how gifted I am; It is about how much I love. Paul speaks of a “more excellent way,” and then leads straight into love. Not emotion. Not performance. Love that is patient. Love that is kind. Love that does not insist on its own way. 

The world often measures excellence by performance, such as how well I speak or how much I accomplish. But Scripture defines excellence completely. It tells me that without love, even the most impressive acts are empty noise. 

What is praiseworthy in God’s eyes is not truth without compassion or justice without love. What honors Him is love that reflects His heart. 

When I think about what is excellent, I desire to examine my motives. I can do the right things for the wrong reasons. I can serve without loving. I can speak truth without grace. But God calls me to a more excellent way, the way of loving others with the love He gives me.. 

Jesus walked the most excellent way. He healed because He loved. He taught because He loved. He went to the cross because He loved. Love was not just what He did, it was who He is. 

Thinking about what is praiseworthy shifts my focus from what looks impressive to what is eternal. Love never fails. Love outlasts gifts, knowledge, and accomplishments. Love remains when everything else fades. 

When I think about love, my actions begin to change. My tone softens. My patience grows. My priorities realign. Excellence stops being about being right or being noticed and starts being about reflecting Jesus. 

So today, I desire the more excellent way. I choose love over noise. I choose confidence in Jesus over my performance. I choose what truly honors God. And I choose to think about whatever is excellent and praiseworthy. 

Reflection Questions 

1. When have I been tempted lately to value performance over love? 

2. How can I walk in love in my words and actions today? 

3. In what relationships is God inviting me to lead with patience, kindness, and love? 

Lord, You have shown me the more excellent way. Teach me to love as You love. Guard my heart from empty striving, and shape my thoughts, words, and actions with Your love. May my life reflect what is truly excellent and praiseworthy in Your sight. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.