Be Perfect
Matthew 5:48 Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
WE all know we cannot live life perfectly, so why would Jesus
teach such an unreachable goal?
In truth, the goal
is not unreachable. We must keep in mind that through Jesus’ God has come to
earth to speak truth to us. The truth is often very different than what we
think and experience in our own sin-based minds. Thus it is important to see
God does not preach to us the impossible, but he preaches to us the way to
live.
Jesus’ teaching
here is about what we are to become. He knows perfection cannot be ours this
side of heaven. But that reality does not mean we do not strive for perfection.
To be perfect as God means we live in
the process of becoming more and more
as God. The word for that “becoming process” is sanctification. As we learn God’s
teachings and begin to live into them, we become sanctified, perfected, in Christ.
When we ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” we consider how we can respond
into God’s perfection, following our perfect model for life.
Being perfect as
God is perfect also points to our eternal destiny. Jesus also taught perfection
this: “Whoever believes and is baptized
will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Eternal life is,
of course, the place of perfection. As we confess our sins and confess Jesus as
Lord, our sins are paid, our slate is clear, and we are perfect before God in
Jesus’ saving blood.
Jesus’ life,
perfectly obedient to the Father, points you to God. Follow him and be perfect.
LIFE Link: Aim for
perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of
love and peace will be with you. (2 Cor 13:11)
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