Be Perfect!

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In Matthew 5:48.... "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

"CHRISTIANS AREN'T PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN." So says the bumper sticker and it may be an accurate description for you at this point.  But that's not an excuse to settle for just being forgiven.  God wants you to strive for perfection,  Jesus said so himself, and Matthew recorded it.  When you read this, you might think something was lost in the translation: I'll never be perfect.  Perhaps Jesus said to be as close to perfect as you can be or as to be a perfectionist.  No, Jesus said it is possible to be perfect.  Saying otherwise is saying God is unable to make you like His Son.  That's a statement about God as much as it is about you.

Biblically speaking, to be perfect means to be complete, lacking in nothing.  To be perfect means to reach spiritual maturity.  It doesn't mean you never make mistakes.  It means the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in your life (Galatians 5:22), so your life will be characterized by the same things that characterized Jesus' life:  LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL. In other words, to be perfect means to be like Christ.  A tall order! You bet.  But God wants to fill it.  His Word says so (Galatians 2:20).

Throughout history, the human race has accepted a lower standard for ourselves than God's standard for us.  Our sin has caused us to fall short of becoming the people God meant for us to be.  The Bible is filled with accoutns of those who chose to disobey God instead of cooperating with Him, and it always led to their destruction.  We still do it.  We still don't trust God can make us complete, so we choose our own way.  We do what we think is best, and we get what we be that way.  God has a plan to make us spiritually mature.  We just have to trust him and follow it.  If we will allow him, he will rid us of every selfish and sinful attitude in our hearts.  Then He'll remake us into the image of His Son.

(The Experience: Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount)


God indeed impressed me to be perfect! I might not be the most beautiful person in the world, but I believe that I am wonderfully made! :) I'll strive to be perfect and that is to make the fruit of the Spirit evident in my life!

So how's your daily quiet time with the Lord?
Never underestimate the power of God's Word. He has a lot in store for us! a lot of promises and revelation to tell.

Thank You Jesus.

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