Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48 KJV

“Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Why? The will of God here on earth is the same will as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).  Not only is God perfect in heaven and earth, He has an excellent Spirit; and, the people of God should also strive for a spirit of excellence while on the path of perfection. Excellence is not perfection, but helps to keep you on the path of perfection.

Often people conflate excellence with perfection. In fact, some with a spirit of excellence are sometimes accused of being a perfectionist—not in most cases. Having a spirit of excellence is not perfection. They are not the same. For example, Noah was just man and perfect in his generations and he walked with God, but the Bible doesn’t say that he had a spirit of excellence (Gen. 6:9). Job was a perfect and upright man, i.e., full of integrity and truth, but he wasn’t one with a spirit of excellence (Job 1:1; 3:25); but on the other hand, Daniel had an excellent spirit, but not perfection (Dan. 6:3).

What is a spirit of excellence?  It is living in a state of excellence and valuable quality (Merriam-Webster), measured by one’s heart—not the abundance of skill (Col. 3:23); whether you’re facing a test or trial, believing God’s promise, serving in ministry, or just living your life, do it with a spirit of excellence. It is doing everything heartily to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). This is the spirit that keeps you on the path of perfection.

A spirit of excellence is always about man’s doing (Prov. 12:26). An Excellent Spirit is about the Lord and His Doings (Ps. 8:1). Man’s spirit of excellence will demand and command valuable quality (Isa. 12:5) while God’s excellent Spirit releases the Word and works of the Lord (Prov. 22:20). Just know that a believer with a spirit of excellence will imitate God’s excellent Spirit in order to stay on the path of perfection.