It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the best for me, the worst for Him. It was the day that Jesus laid down His life to save me from my sins.

This was because He saw something that He alone could see in me—my very best. He saw something that was not there, and only God can do that. And to Him, it was worth dying for. What unfathomable love!

Romans 5:8 says, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since God gave His best for me, isn’t the least that I can do to give my best for Him?

But what is my best? If I could be smarter and work harder, would that be my best? If I could earn more and give more, would that be my best? If I could solve all the problems in the world, stop the wars, and cure cancer, would that be my best? By the way, I hate cancer. I wish it would get cancer and die.

If I could serve others more and make things just right for everyone, would that be my best?

Martha thought so. She had welcomed Jesus and His disciples into her house and was busy making things perfect for them. In Luke 10, we find that she was very upset that she was having to do all the work by herself, while her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He had to say.

Like Martha, I want to make things perfect for others. But in case you have not noticed, I am not God so I cannot really do that.

When I give myself, well, it is just me that I am giving. And I hate to admit this but, to make matters worse, sometimes I whine about it being too hard.

Martha complained to Jesus too and here was His response.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (vs. 41-42)

Mary had found the secret. She knew she had to look to Jesus. Her best could only be found in Him. It is all about Jesus. Jesus is love.

In Matthew 22:38-39, Jesus says, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself .’

So giving Him our best is simple really. It starts with loving Him and spreads to loving everyone else.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hard-ship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

While we try to show our best and love in all situations, sometimes life gets the best of us, doesn’t it?

Here are 7 Tips to help us give our best to God and to others, to be our best in all things.

1. Pray and ask God for ideas of how to show your love to Him and to the world. Then align your attitude, decisions and actions with that.

2. Surround yourself with those who challenge and/or encourage your efforts to love God and love people.

3. Focus on how what you do benefits others, and how God feels about it.

4. Put yourself in the shoes of others, and treat them as you would want to be treated.

5. Commit to kindness.

6. Count your blessings. Be thankful. Be thankful. Be thankful.

7. LOVE …. Just give them Jesus. He works for everything!

No matter how much we give, we can never outgive God. No matter how much we love, we can never outlove God. That is because He cared enough to send the very best.

Dear Lord: You are the best, and we can only be our best through You. Help us to seek You first, and stop trying to be the best on our own. It is not in us. It is in You. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins. Because of this, if we accept Him as Lord and Savior, we can attain heights we could never have imagined otherwise, heights all the way to glorious Heaven with You forever. Amen

Do you have other ideas about how to be your best? Are you still a work in progress like me? Please share your thoughts, experiences, and comments. Share your best :)!

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. Like Mary, may we find our best always at the feet of Jesus.