Perfection through Love

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Scripture

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
(Matthew 5:44 NASB)
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
(Matthew 5:45 NASB)
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Matthew 5:48 NASB)

Observation

Jesus commands us to love those around us. We are not only to love those who like or love us, but rather, we are to love our enemies -- those who despise us! He is reminding us that by loving those who do not love us, we will be His sons. It is in this act that we join into the holy life of the Father and we are literally His children. As this entire segment is brought to a close Jesus wraps it up with the statement that we are to be perfect. That is, we will be brought to completion as God's holy children when we are completely filled by His holy love.

Application

Too often we have tried to define holiness by a list of things that we will or will not do! That's not what God had in mind. Holiness is about God's holiness living and dwelling in us. It is about God's holiness transforming us into the very likeness of His Son. The very nature of God is love and it is that transforming holy love that changes the way we behave on a daily basis. Holiness is about falling in love with our world, and very specifically with those who do not love us back.

Look around you today. Who do you see? I see a world of people that I do not know. A world of people who desperately need Jesus Christ -- only they don't know it. How will they know it? Only when we bring Jesus to them, by being the likeness of Jesus in our everyday lives. What will it take for this to happen? All of our selfish pride and self-righteous anger must be washed away by the love of Jesus Christ. We must be willing to let go of the things that we believe we have the right to hang onto -- and give it all to God. Let His love wash over our hurts, wounds and frustrations. Then, allow God's love to so wash into us that it spills over in every aspect of our lives. In this way we are made perfect, or brought to completion, as the reflection of the very Image -- Jesus Christ. Be perfect -- it's possible, through Him.

Prayer

Lord, may Your love transform me to the point of becoming complete in You. Amen.

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