Christian Perfection

December 2nd, 2013 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12

It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, “It could never be God’s will for me to be sick”? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary— that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
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December 2, 2013-JDV

Lord, a devotional about Christian perfection can only make me see just how far from perfect I truly am. I have lots of dents in my fenders and rips in my jeans. And I suspect if I sought Christian perfection, not only would I be constantly frustrated, but I would also feel defeated. Like the Apostle Paul, even when I try to do the right thing, I fail. Can You help me negotiate my path and desire to be a man after your own heart and actually living it out?

And God says…”Of course I can help you live this dichotomy out. You want to do the right thing, but do not, you want to grit your teeth and change your thoughts and actions in areas of your life, and you fail, over and over. And it is compounded by the knowledge that God does not grade on the curve. Getting a little bit better, learning and living to be a better person in certain areas does not help.  Who is to save you from your desire to live a life as a man after My own heart and your ability to live it out 100 percent of the time?  Jesus. Focus on Jesus, and His love and life given to you, and watch your life change; watch as you are transformed, over time, by the love of God in the person of Jesus.  Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need will be provided. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

 

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