Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel. (Genesis 49:3–4)
Reuben had great potential. He was Jacob’s firstborn, the beginning of his father’s strength, and he carried the excellency of dignity and power. Yet Jacob declared that he would not excel because he was “unstable as water.” His potential was great, but his character could not sustain the greatness that was available to him.
Excellence is demonstrated through stability and consistency. You cannot live for God passionately one day and then become completely carnal and worldly the next. You cannot continually move between commitment and carelessness, discipline and disorder, spiritual hunger and spiritual neglect, and expect to build an excellent life. Your way must be upward and forward only. You must become dependable in your walk with God, your character, your responsibilities, and your relationships.
An unstable and double-minded person cannot walk consistently in victory because inconsistency prevents dependability. What God is building in you requires stability. Let your prayer life be consistent. Let your obedience to the Word of God be consistent. Let your character be consistent. Don’t allow your circumstances or emotions to determine who you become each day.
Let your life become increasingly stable, disciplined, dependable, and Christlike. Don’t merely have the potential to excel—develop the character that will enable you to excel.
Prayer:
Glorious Father, I thank You for every truth You have taught me about excellence through Your Word. I am grateful for the grace to develop a stable, disciplined, and dependable character. I consciously choose the upward and forward path, and I thank You for establishing excellence in every area of my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.