Snapshots
Biblical Truth
OF
A Call To Perfection
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Matthew 5:48 (LivBible) “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 19:21 (LivBible) “Jesus told him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven; and come, follow me’”
2 Corinthians 7:1 (LivBible) “Having such great promises as these, dear friends, let us turn away from everything wrong, whether of body or spirit, and purify ourselves, living in the wholesome fear of God, giving ourselves to him alone.”
Philippians 3:12-14 (LivBible) “I don’t mean to say I am perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No , dear brothers, I am still not all I should be ..... ”
Colossians 1:28 (LivBible) “… We want to be able to present each one to God, perfect because of what Christ has done for each of them.”
Hebrews 10:12-14 (LivBible) “But Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time, and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand, waiting for his enemies to be laid under his feet. For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those who he is making holy.”
Hebrews 12:23 (LivBible) “.... and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven; and to God who is Judge of all; and to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven, already made perfect,.... “
APPLICATION:
In all my years I have yet to meet one perfect person (ignoring those who claim to be!). The exception, of course, would be Jesus Christ. Even the Apostle Paul had to place a disclaimer on perfection (read Philippians 3:12-14). We all seem to have our flaws and blind spots. Yet, Jesus Christ himself commands us to be perfect like our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:48).
If the Apostle Pauls was unable to achieve perfection in his life it is certain I won’t and in all probability you won’t either. So, what is this command that Jesus has given us? Why is he insisting we do something that is impossible? The truth of the matter, Jesus has set the bar of perfection so high that nobody can achieve it without the help of God. No matter how far along the path of perfection you have come, there will always be more room for improvement (even for the Apostle Paul!).
Sometimes we humans like to use our human imperfections as an excuse for our sloppy actions. We try to gloss over our failures by saying “no one is perfect!” Although a true statement, there really is no excuse for not striving to be more perfect than we are. A better tactic would be to fess up to God for our mistakes and failures and allow his mercy and grace to perfect us. It is only then we will gain perfection in God’s eyes.
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A PRAYER:
“God, I know in this life I will never reach total perfection, but I promise to continue to strive toward the goal of perfection; counting on your mercy, grace and forgiveness for my mistakes and failures on the way.”
SNAPSHOT:
