Becoming Perfect

Interested in learning how you can become perfect? Well you’ve made it to the right place. Today, I’m going to teach you how anyone can become perfect.

Step one, win the lottery. Wait, that can’t be right; let’s be honest winning the lottery probably does more harm than good. When you think of perfect or striving to be perfect who do you think of? Do you picture a celebrity or someone successful who has made it in life? Do you picture God and His perfection creation?

The English dictionary has a variety of definitions for the word perfect, a few are: make (something) completely free from faults or defects also being absolute; complete and having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

Apparently all it takes to be perfect is to learn how to be free from faults and defects, be complete and have every desired quality and characteristic. Seems a bit far-fetched to me and a nearly impossible feat so why would anyone ever want to be perfect? What benefit is there to being perfect?  

The other day I had a conversation with my mom and was convicted by the word perfect, without question I said “I don’t want to be perfect because it seems like an unachievable goal.” I know I’m not perfect, in fact I’m the furthest thing from perfect, I’m a sinner saved by the grace of God but a sinner none the less who makes countless mistakes, one who is full of faults and imperfections so why would I ever want to be perfect? Personally, when I think of perfect I of course think of God and how perfect and flawless He is and how perfect and without flaw His Word and Creation is. How can I be perfect when my heavenly Father is far more perfect than I could ever be? This goal of being perfect to me seemed extremely unachievable and not just that but something I didn’t want for myself because I couldn’t comprehend putting myself on the same level as God; I know I’m not God but when I think of the word perfect I think of God and I’m not Him nor will I ever be Him. So I figured being perfect was out of the question. 

Later that day I was reading Matthew 5 and I came across verse 48 and this is where God convicted me, if you’ve never read Matthew 5:48 it says this “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Jesus, our Lord and our Savior, our teacher and the one person we ought to strive to be more like straight up tells His children that we are to be perfect, just as our Father in Heaven is perfect. But how? How is this even possible? How are we, sinners who are broken and full of mistakes and imperfections, supposed to be perfect?

Thankfully, the answer is written in God’s word. A few verses earlier in Mathew 5:44 Jesus starts this message like this:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Jesus isn’t telling us that we need to be perfect in the sense that we are to be flawless or free from defects but He desires that we live life in a way that we love our enemies and bless those that curse us and pray for those that persecute us. Our behaviors and our actions and our thoughts towards others are to be perfect.

If you came here today looking for a magical recipe on how you can be perfect I’m sorry this wasn’t the answer you were looking for. Being perfect doesn’t mean you have to be free of mistakes, free from faults or defects, it doesn’t mean you need to become famous or have it all figured out, neither does it mean you need to be a millionaire or celebrity.

As a Child of God and someone who has accepted Christ into their life, being perfect or having a desire to be perfect should look different, it means:

• Loving God and loving your neighbors (Matthew 22:37-39 “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”)

• Loving your enemies (Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”)

• Denying your own self (Matthew 16:24 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”)

• Being separated from the world (1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”)

• Having a desire to be Christlike (Philippians 2:15 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”)

• Complete in Him (Colossians 2:10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power”)

God doesn’t expect us to be flawless or faultless but God does desire that we strive to be perfect and Christlike in our actions, our behaviors and thoughts. He expects our lives to be a reflection of His love and His perfection, that when others look at us they don’t see you but they see God’s perfect love and saving grace shining through you.

No matter who you are, whether you know God personally or you’re still searching for the truth, you were made by a perfect God, with intention and thought and incredible detail. You may not think you’re perfect or feel it or believe it but in the eyes of God you were created perfectly and valued by Christ, Matthew 10:30 reminds us that “the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” No matter your past or your current situation you are valued by Christ and were created with purpose and for a purpose. I know sometimes being perfect or striving to achieve perfection in our walk with God seems impossible and unattainable but when we trust God and our relationship with Him develops we begin to see what perfection looks like to Him and remember that while on our own reaching that goal is impossible through Christ all things are possible!

 Philippians 4:13 says this “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So what’s the point? Why strive to be perfect? What purpose is there in reaching this nearly impossible goal? Growing up, as a child, didn’t you try to do your best just to make your parents proud? Well, no matter your age now, we should have that same heart towards our Father in Heaven, not out of obligation but out of love and a desire to serve Him. When we strive to be perfect it doesn’t just affect our relationship with God but it impacts the world around us and that is exactly what God has called us to do, to love Him and love one another. By being perfect we’re not only pleasing Him but we become a beacon hope to a world that is lost and searching for the truth. So go out there and be perfect not for your own glory or self-satisfaction but out of love for God and to bring Him glory!

📍Cannon Beach