Have you ever struggled over
this Scripture? Some may even think
if this is what it means to be a Christian, I can never measure up. They
end up walking away from a relationship with Christ or half-heartedly serving
Him because it feels pointless to try something that’s unobtainable.
I’ve read that the word 'perfect' (teleios) has several
meanings. One definition is
"completion," another speaks of maturity but not necessarily sinless,
and another is "the appropriate state at the appropriate time." For instance, a tree that has no leaves in
winter is perfect. It is at the
appropriate stage for the appropriate time.
Not everyone is in the same season. It would be silly for a mature tree to
compare itself to a newly planted seed. That's not a
level playing field. They are in a totally different stage of growth.
So why do we? I know it’s human nature to want to compare
sins; place people at different sin degrees.
We play "Let's Compare" instead of "How can I become more
like Christ?"
"A butterfly
should never judge the caterpillar." -et
God meets each of us right where we are. As long as our heart is to serve and please
Him ~ we are in the appropriate state at the appropriate time! Does this mean
we aren't ever to keep one another accountable and spur one another on? Of course not, but that's a different message
:)
Like any relationship, it takes time to grow. For relationships that you are cultivating
and desiring deeper intimacy in, you will pass through different stages to get
to that level. It takes time to develop.
Our relationship with Christ is the same.
In a relationship, you will either be moving forward or moving
backwards. It’s through full surrender and
willingness to let God work in us that brings the needed growth. Sometimes it's
through tough times that we grow and sometimes it's simply in the quiet moments
spent with the Potter.
I want to encourage you that if your heart is fixed on a sincere
desire to follow Christ and walk in obedience to His Word, you are in the
appropriate state at the appropriate time... To God, this is to be
perfect. Without flaw? No, but
definitely on your way to completeness...
"And I am
convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you
will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His
return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full
completion in you." Philippians 1:6
