Psalm 19:7: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
God’s word is reliable, right, pure, holy, and true. It gives us CPR – it revives our soul. It is where we find strength in time of need. God’s law shows us our imperfections.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:48: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
The Greek word for perfect in this verse is “teleios.” It means wanting nothing necessary to completeness; finished.
Jesus had just taught in Matthew 5, on the importance of forgiving and loving our enemies, not taking retaliation, and that our character should be different than the unsaved. In other words, more should be expected from Christians since they claim to be different, renewed, and repentant in Jesus Christ. After all, we have the spirit of God living in us.
If we would all live as Jesus taught in Matthew 5, we would indeed be perfect. It would look like this:
- Always content.
- Always truthful.
- Allowing God to defend us and take revenge on our part.
- Loving all – even our enemies.
- Never hate anyone.
- A shining light at all times no matter what the circumstances are.
- Praying for our enemies.
- Never hold on to anger and quickly settle any hostile feelings.
- Continually forgive others.
I admit I have a long way to go. I fail every day. I am not always content. I get in a stew about various circumstances that seem unjust and just not right. Then forgiveness is not the first thought that comes into my mind and settles into my heart and soul. I want to protect what is mine.
None of us can attain perfection, but God says He has set the bar in front of us all. I am helpless and hopeless apart from God. But I am complete in Him. It is a process that never ends while we live on this earth.
“I recollect when I resolved never to sin again. I sinned before I had done my breakfast.” Charles Spurgeon.
Psalm 18:30 NLT: “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT: “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
Some day we will understand it all when we are in heaven. Answers to our questions will be known and many things won’t matter any longer as Revelation 21:4 declares: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
As we all close the book on our life in 2016, we must reflect and analyze where we have grown and matured in Christ. Some things are now in the past and may leave painful memories. Let them go. It is done. May 2017 be the year of further maturity and perfection in our radically knowing Christ Jesus our Lord more intimately and thoroughly. May we make every effort to add to our faith:
- Endurance and steadfastness.
- Complete trust and hope in the sufficiency of Christ.
- Increase in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in this forthcoming new year.
Be renewed in Christ day by day. Be quick to forgive and love others. Be content. Abide in Him. Let your light radiate the presence of being with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:24a: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy . . .”