God Wants Us to Be Perfect.

Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect just as your Heavenly Father is perfect."

Perfection. Without flaw, or blemish. Be perfect with your body. Be perfect in your job, your performance, be perfect in your parenting, be perfect in your marriage. There are so many lies we can believe about this word perfect. I believe we have all struggled with this in some way, wouldn't you agree? If you stopped right now and thought about your life I am sure you can recall a moment when the need for perfection was placed upon you by yourself or someone else. It comes in all forms and can strip us of our confidence, joy, and peace. 

The strive for perfection places people at the center to judge, critique, and to examine the worth of an individual. I don't think that was what God intended, no not at all..so what do we do with this verse? This scripture has always made me feel uneasy. I never understood it. I never knew how to process this.

 Can you imagine this scene? Sitting at Jesus' feet while He gives the greatest sermon ...just soaking up every word, every breath, every movement that He makes.. Hearing how He is calling you to live, you nod in agreement, "Yes Lord. I see it now, blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. I can do this, I can live this way." And then here it comes...Be Perfect. 

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So here I am trying to answer the question: Does God want you to be perfect?? The answer is...Yes.

The scripture does not say, Be perfect as Jesus was perfect. And thank goodness it doesn't. Jesus lived a sinless life, perfect, flawless, and without blemish. He handled every situation just the way he was supposed to. He never lied, never hurt anyone, never felt selfishness, envy, hatred. He never held a grudge, he never struggled with discontentment. So why does it say, "Be perfect just as your heavenly Father was perfect?"

The word Perfect in Hebrew is Tamiym, meaning - what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact. In other words, being used for what you were intended, or living with intent. 

I love how the amplified Bible puts it, "You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life],as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus is saying is " I want you to live the way you were intended to live." Heather, live the way I have created you to live...

Live in relationship with Me.
Live in the place I have called you.
Live your life by following My will.
Live in confidence of who I created you to be.
Live brave and courageous.
Live Free.
Live alive, fully in the moment.
Live in my presence.
Live in the truth of the Cross.
Live in the love I have lavished upon you.
Live in Joy
Live in Peace

So does God want you to be perfect? Yes. He longs for you to live just as you were created to live.

Live walking with Him step by step, day by day. 

Live with intent. 

The enemy calls us by our sin, we call ourselves by a standard, by expectations, but the Lord always calls us by our name. Which voice will you decide to speak into your soul today? I pray you choose to hear the Lord's truth today in who you are and how He has called you to live.

Much Love, 
​   Heather





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