I love my friends who make me think.
My post on being perfect last week brought a few comments outside the blogosphere that challenged me to think and re-think my stance and my writing. I have perfected neither but have more to say.
I want to be perfect because I want to know the mind of Christ and the will of God. I will not excuse imperfection in my actions but it is perfection in our hearts that God truly desires. A dear friend laid the following quote in my lap and I love it. St Augustine said, "Love, and do as you will". Now, just imagine what we would do if everything we did was based solely in love. The perfection of our actions would take care of themselves because our heart and mind would be aligned with God. If everything I do, I do in love I am compelled to believe that I would treat people more like Jesus did with the woman at the well and less like someone trying to massage my own ego, wondering what's wrong with someone else while my own heart is in turmoil. If everything I do, I do in love I am compelled to believe that my thoughts and actions would be more Christ-like and less Jeff-like, more from the mind of Christ than the ego of Jeff, more nurturing instead of concern for how I feel.
The perfection I want to achieve, the perfection I believe God calls us to in Matthew 5 has little do to with the things we do and everything to do with our heart for God. My life would be lived out doing what Jesus did - loving, caring, encouraging, sharing fellowship, sharing compassion, giving, feeding, nurturing and leading others to the knowledge of God and His perfect love. So don't tell me I can't be perfect. Encourage me to grow closer to God. Don't tell me God knows we are going to fail. Walk with me in the footsteps of Christ. Don't talk to me about why someone is the way they are. Talk to me about how I can love more perfectly and forgive completely and show them the grace and mercy God has shown me.
Grace and peace to you.
2 comments:
We talked about perfection in class Sunday and the words that struck me were "Strive for Christ-like perfection while admitting your human imperfection". I think your comment is even closer to the real thing. We need to strive to love with Christ's perfect love while admitting our human failures. It takes more courage to let others know how imperfect you are than to walk through life pretending to be perfect.
Truth, brother. Admitting I had some horrible failings was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Also one of the most freeing things I've done.
The only way we can achieve, even hope for, perfection is to love wholly and completely. It might never happen but I will strive for it tomorrow.
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