… and become mature …
Summary: How we use language impacts how we think and what we do. It has a powerful influence on what we believe, too.
When you hear someone use the word “perfect,” what do you think of? It’s an interesting word, isn’t it?
As an inveterate over-thinker, I tend to take the word to an extreme when I hear it used. I hold things to a standard of perfection that is so high it is unknowable. When someone says, “That’s perfect,” I look at what they are pointing to and see the flaws.
“No, it’s not,” is my usual reply. But I’m wrong when I do that. Things can be perfect without being held to an impossible standard.
Let’s use an apple as a model of perfection.
When the apple is young, it is not ripe. It is small in size and overly tart if you eat it. If a ripe apple falls from the tree, it can be bruised or cut. An apple left on the tree too long is soft and punky. Apples can have other flaws, too. Apples get sunburned sometimes, and if the bugs get to them, they will have worm holes and brown spots inside. All of these examples showcase imperfect apples.
A perfect apple is still an apple. It is not supposed to be perfectly round or perfectly uniform in color. A perfect apple is ripe. Not green, not over-ripe, but ripe. The taste is sweet or tart, depending on the apple, and the fruit is firm and moist. The color of the peel is pleasant to look at. Bugs may or may not be a problem. A buggy road apple might look unappetizing but be “perfect” for the cider press.
“Perfection” is that sweet spot where something arrives at a place and time where a person or thing meets its intended purpose.
Christians are fond of saying, “nobody’s perfect!,” but is that true?
Paul clearly believes that we can be perfect. The word “téleios” is Paul’s word that we translate as “mature.” It means “completeness: — of full age, man, perfect” (Strongs G5056). Paul wants us to be built up in faith, equipped for “works of service,” so we become mature and perfect.
It seems odd to think that any one of us could be considered “perfect” by God. Yet, we know we occasionally come across a perfect apple, a perfect day, or a perfect sunset. God made us for a certain purpose. We are each unique, and we each have a unique purpose. As we allow ourselves to be equipped for works of service and learn to build each other up in faith, we mature and become more perfect in God’s eyes.
Paul says so!
Application: Strive to become perfect in God’s eyes.
Food for Thought: How does looking at the word “perfect” as an achievable goal change our thinking about being a Christian?
I really enjoyed your devotion this morning, it blessed my soul.
I recently bought a used car. I prayed about it. I prayed because I felt fear about it. A lot of fear. “Money! Thieves! Hassle!” I asked Jesus “how am I going to do this?” He said “just trust me.”
Then silence. A few weeks passed. I waited, remembering His words. One day He spoke to my heart “your car is on this road.” I looked it up. There were 6 dealerships on that road. I asked “which one?” He said “all of them.” I ended up going to all of them. My car was at the last one. Each visit prepared me for the very last visit. The day I visited the last place, my car had only been on the lot 1 day. Had I gone earlier, I would have missed it, and I found it because I knew what to look for.
It was perfect. Not the car, the car is good, I mean the journey. The time my oldest son and I spent together. Meeting a new brother in Christ at the first place. Being able to fulfill a promise to my oldest son. Trusting in His word and watching it unfold in a place of peace. Perfect.
How does looking at the word “perfect” as an achievable goal change our thinking about being a Christian?
I look at perfect as being more like taking in a deep satisfying breath, than a state of being. That the perfection of Christ for me here on Earth is a down payment for the perfection I will have with Him in Heaven. What makes these moments perfect? His faithfulness. That the only right thing I need to do is put my trust in Him. Just trust that acting on His guidance will bring to fruition His perfection in my life.
Thing is, looking back at it, the perfection of that journey lies in the connections that it brought, with my Savior, with my son, and with my new friend.
Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Chris,
Dare I say it? “Perfect response!” 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story about the car. That is a nice illustration of God’s provision and guidance.
06-28-2022, How does looking at the word “perfect” as an achievable goal change our thinking about being a Christian?
Great comments CH, and Jeff, I can only say, God has a very special gift waiting for Debbie.
Jesus taught in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect”
Also see, Ephesians 2:13, 4:13, Hebrews 5:14, 6:1, 8:12
Perfection is an achievable goal because as believers, God does not see our imperfections, He sees His Son Jesus Christ in us. Being perfect in the sight of God is a state of being for believers.
I recall reading, learning this truth years ago and sharing it with a brother in Christ. His reply was, well that’s true, but you don’t want to tell anybody because they might stop trying to grow in Christ. I remember thinking, no, actually knowing this truth draws me closer to God and I wanted to learn more about Him. To this day, I continue my study time with God and enjoy setting like a child at my Fathers feet, as He patiently shares His wisdom with me.
Ron,
Great point about how this motivates us to want to do better for Jesus!
(If you’re referring to Debbie getting extra “perfect points” because she has to put up with me, I totally agree! 🙂 )
I might take a slightly different bent here. I understand that telos in the Greek is normally associated with when Christ returns (e.g, 1 Corinthians 13: 10). Philippians 1: 6 tells us that He who began a good work in us will carry it in to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
We are currently perfect in God’s eyes if we are in Christ – because of Christ. The Father looks at us and sees Jesus’ righteousness applied to us.
Then we will become like Him fully when we see Him face to face. I believe it is Christ from first to last and faith in Christ from first to last (Romans 1: 16 – 17).
I have a friend who says he no longer sins in any way. He is past that and is perfectly holy now. Do you believe him? I confess that I do not. I know him too well.
What is the point of this? Whatever we claim – Christ deserves the credit because it is His work and not ours and He deserves all the glory.
BRW: I noticed that you ended by writing that as we grow “we mature and become more perfect in God’s eyes.” Amen. I think that is key. We keep pressing on to the prize.
Yes! That is exactly it. 🙂
Brother Rich,
Thank you for your comments today! I especially appreciate the point about your friend who “says he no longer sins in any way.” Let’s talk about that for a minute.
Sin, as we’ve discussed before here, is a three part concept. There is the “sin” of being separate from God at birth because of Adam and Eve’s sin. This is cured by our relationship with Jesus. Once we are reunited with God through Jesus, we no longer suffer from this type of sin.
The second is open rebellion against God. This is a conscious rejection of God and what he stands for. This is cured by repenting and humbling ourselves before God.
The third type of sin is related to the second, which is the archery term meaning, “falling short” or “missing the mark.” In this regard, if we suffer shortcomings and failings or even momentary grumblings against God (Sin #2), then we are guilty of this kind of sin.
Now, an interesting thing about this third kind of sin is that everything depends on who is making the judgment about what is a sin. If your friend judges himself sinless, then he is placing himself in God’s judgment seat. Perhaps a good reference verse for this is 1 Corinthians 4:4 —
“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.”
But there is another side to this which complicates things. To judge from a human point of view is to judge from a worldly point of view. It’s like me overthinking things: Nothing can be perfect because perfection entails the unknowably high standard of perfection. However, if I’m doing what God has tasked me to do, for example — writing this blog, and God is pleased with what I do, it is possible that I am as “perfect” as a ripe apple or a beautiful sunset in God’s eyes. The same is true for you. As a pastor you represent our Lord well and he might very well feel you are “perfect” for the times and the place.
I know I am beating this subject to death and thereby falling short of my goal of being perfect from a worldly point of view, but I do appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts on this. So thank you! Your question was … perfect! 🙂
Thanks brother. Perfect😊
At my post opp appointment Tuesday my surgeon committed the shoulder looked perfect! For now I pray she was right!
Nice, Woody!!
That’s GREAT news!! 🙂