October 14: World Standards Day

 

October 14:  World Standards Day 

Have you ever considered that part of your destiny is to establish standards?  You were created for that very purpose.  Ephesians 2:10 is crystal clear: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Imagine it.  We were created not merely to provide the moral standards, but to walk in them. And all this happened before we were even a twinkle in our parents’ eyes. 

Throughout the world, there is a set of standards that have been established that companies, organizations, and industries have all agreed to hold up. These standards have been established by mutual agreement between these organizations as part of their participation in the ISO, the International Organization for Standardization. It was these kinds of standards that helped drive the industrial revolution, and today it drives the advancement of all technologies from automotive to telecommunications. World Standards Day celebrates the work of these men and women, and the contribution their work makes to the world at large. 

Funny thing about good standards.  They are hard to hide.  In Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:25 he notes “So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”  Here is the question.  How can we be people who conspicuously elevate God-honoring standards without being jerks?  For me at least, that’s a tough one!

I think two simple words can point us in the right direction:  teach and model.  The hard part is teaching without being “preachy” and modelling without being “showy.”  Pray for a humble and wise heart.  Ask God’s Spirit to give you what you need to be winsome, to be engaging and loving as you teach and model God-honoring standards.  Remember, most often good behavior is caught before it is taught.  On this world standards day, let God’s people rise up and determine that no one will outdo us in doing good.  And let’s rely on God to be humble and loving as we do so.  Of for the day when we will celebrate God’s Standards Day.  Press on.  It’s coming.