TODAY’S INSPIRATION: I’M NOT PERFECT!…

When it comes to holding ourselves accountable, we sometimes like to use “I’m not perfect” as an excuse or as a get out of a sin free card. The dictionary’s definition of perfect is complete and without defect or blemish, or being entirely without fault or flawless. According  to the definition, none of us can honestly say that we are perfect. Now here comes the interesting part, perfect can also be used as a verb meaning, to make something perfect. And it is pronounced differently with the emphasis on perFECT. I’m not a baker so my cakes are never perfect, however the more I bake I perFECT my cake each time. This is not an English lesson or a cooking lesson, it is a revelation that I want to share. Righteousness and perfection are not the same!  

Because of His great sacrifice, Jesus Christ is the one who made it possible for us to be declared righteous by God because we’re in Christ and He is righteous. (1 Corinthians 1:30) In the New Testament, the Greek word for perfect means complete, whole, and fully developed. Jesus tells us in Mathew 5:4-8, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” He is inviting us to strive for that kind of perfection. Daily we must rise above the tendencies of the flesh and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus who is the only human that walked this earth in perfection. The original Greek word for perfect means complete. None of us will be “complete” in this mortal life, completeness will come in the eternities. God is working to complete what He started within us and living righteous and being obedient is the steps in our journey to completion. We cannot do it ourselves, no one can do it for us except Christ who can help us to reach it. The perfect reflection of who we are and what we can do is Jesus. As the scripture said, as He is, so are we. Whatever He is, whatever He will do, or whatever He has done, we can see ourselves from that perspective.  

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

We dwell in God’s shelter, not because of our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. However, it would be a mistake to take the grace of Jesus for granted, using  “I’m not perfect” as an excuse or to justify our sins. There is a difference between making an occasional mistake and practicing willful sin. We should not use the “I’m not perfect” to get out of being accountable for our actions.  

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:4-8)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God knows all about our weaknesses. This is why He gave His Son. God’s intention is for us is to have victory over sin. When we mess up and fall short, Jesus is there to help us up, showing us grace, love, and understanding. On our journey to perfection, we must show this same grace, love, and understanding to each other. Our human flesh loves sin, sin can feel, sound, look, smell, and taste good! That’s the deception of the enemy. Anything that does not please God or goes against His Word, is not good! The enemy  will try and convince us that it is good so we will be tempted. Do not be deceived! If this particular sin is front and center in your mind and heart, you are in trouble. Remember we may fool man but we cannot fool God. He knows our heart.  If we allow sin to consume us, we are moving ourselves further away from God, and closer to spiritual death. 

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

“Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” (1John 3:6-7)

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)  

In Biblical times, whenever God withdrew His protection and covering from people, it was the consequences they suffered for their sin and rebellion against Him. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus says that God had sent numerous prophets to Jerusalem to call them back to obedience, but rather than listen, they continued to stone the prophets that were sent. In other words they didn’t want to hear it. They chose to be disobedient and stay in sin. Jesus says that God wanted to gather them under His wing for protection, but they were not willing! As a result, there was death and destruction in Jerusalem. Understand this, God did not send the destruction, He removed His protection! It is clear in the text that God is trying to deliver and protect His people from the destruction, but they would not listen to His warnings and were not willing to come to Him. And so death and destruction came, not from God, but from the armies He was trying to deliver them from in the first place. I believe the same is happening today. God is trying to warn us about so many things that are not pleasing in His sight, but we continue to allow the enemy to use sin and disobedience as a tool to remove us from under God’s shield of protection. Thank God it does not have to be this way, because even if we are not strong enough to stop on our own and most times that is the case, there is Jesus, reaching out to give us the strength we need to get the victory we already have. Yes, we already have the victory over any sin because God said He would always give us a way out. We just have to tap into it by drawing near to Jesus. All we have to do is sincerely ask. We can do all things through Him that strengthens us. Sin and disobedience will keep us from under God’s umbrella of protection, sin is a wall we build between God and us.

 “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” (Matthew 11:15)

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”  (Matthew 23:37)

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrew 2:17-18)

When we slip and fall, we must not just say “I’m not perfect”, and keep being a slave to sin. Jesus died to break us free from the hold that sin has on us. He died so that we would become righteous in the eyes of God. Thank Jesus Christ that we can sincerely repent and get back under God’s shield of protection! God is always our source of protection and strength, especially during uncertain times such as these. Love and Blessings…