word4U2day

2026-02-01

Perfect Process

1 John 3:2 NIV

Let's take a look at Matthew 5:48: 'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (NIV). Perfectionists everywhere can rejoice that their struggle to do everything faultlessly is justified. Or can they? Romans 3:23 reminds us that 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (NIV). So when we aim for total perfection, we're setting the bar unreachably high. And then we can end up guilt-tripping ourselves when we don't achieve the impossible targets we've set.

So what's going on here? Why are we instructed to be perfect, but despite our best efforts, we're told 'actually, you're not perfect at all'. Maybe it shows that our idea of perfection isn't the same as God's. We might try to put together a perfect outfit or cook a perfect meal, or feel the need to get 100% in every exam we ever take. Ours tends to be a very worldly view. So what does God think?

'Perfect' in Matthew 5:48 is translated from the Greek word teleioi, which also means 'finished', 'complete', or 'mature'. Not much in there about appearance or achievements. And all those words imply that there's a process going on. We don't wake up one morning and find we've 'matured' overnight. We're not suddenly 'finished'. But one thing we can be sure of is that when we finally meet God face-to-face, 'we shall be like him' (1 John 3:2 NIV). At that point, the process will be complete and we'll be the best kind of perfect - God's idea of perfect.

So, there's no need to beat ourselves up when we don't hit perfection today, or next week, or next year. It's something that we're constantly drawing nearer to, a transformation that God's working in us right now. And He's promised we'll get there if we walk with Him.

Links to Bible verses: Holy Bible

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