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Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as you’re Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV)
Salvation is compared to an endurance race, one that is not completed as quickly as we would like it to be. Salvation is a continual growing process and similar to growing up and maturing in the realm of the flesh, you also need to grow and mature spiritually. Your life should be one where you are constantly learning to walk in a new and better realm and not just settling for old things. Philippians 3:10-12 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (KJV) Long distance runners are healthy people who need to continue to exercise in order to compete. Many today are all in when it comes time for the blessings; it’s those sufferings and persecutions they could do without. However, in order to resurrect into a new life you will have to take up your cross and nail whatever area of the flesh is hindering your forward progress. Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (KJV) That word ‘press’ refers to suffer and persevere. You find with runners that the race is not won so much on race day, but on the days leading up to it and how one prepares for it. Every day is not always going to be calm and sunny, and you will need to continue to learn to move forward even in some inclement conditions. Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (KJV) Have you ever moved forward in your walk, and rather than continue you desired to go back to where you came from, you know like the children of Israel wanted to do after their exodus from Egypt? You will not find peace and contentment in the old. You need to continue pressing forward into what can be described at times as growing pains; and you will find that your life gets stale and old if you don’t step out in faith and move forward to the place you belong. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (KJV) It’s a lot easier to forget the past and those things which are behind us when you decide to step out and walk in a newness of life. What you find is that you have given the Lord something to work with when you are willing and obedient. So if things are not new and it seems like same old, same old, you need only to look at self to find the solution. Your carnal way of thinking and trying to figure out the Lord is not going to work either. Believe it or not, He doesn’t need your help or input. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as you’re Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV)
Today the Lord has a perfect plan mapped out for you to follow which sometimes does include chastening. Our Lord chastens His people not out of anger, but in a loving way so that He can work in and through His children. Once you have allowed these changes to take place in the area He is working with you on, our Lord then considers you perfect in His sight despite the fact that we are still fallible beings. Luke 6:33-36 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (KJV) I know you get frustrated at times thinking life just isn’t fair. Well in the outward fallen realm of man it is not fair and will not be until our Lord returns to set things straight. In the meantime you’re going to have to bite the bullet so to speak and rise above what your feelings dictate. The more you operate in the realm of the Spirit, the greater the reward will be in the end. Matthew 7:2-5 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considers not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shall thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (KJV) Let me ask this question, have you ever been mad about a situation and the enemy attached a physical face to it, like on a dartboard? I found a solution that was a real wakeup call when my reality check kept bouncing. I found the Lord asking me ‘why are you so worked up about a situation when it was something I never asked you to get involved with in the first place’. In other words, two wrongs do not make a right. Maybe the way things played out were not handled right by others which is why the Lord was not leading you in that direction. Sometimes we get torched in relationships and we let that anger continue long after the crash and burn. In the end we find out that there is a big difference between what God joins together and what our lower nature settles for. Matthew 18:26-27 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. (KJV) Remember how you started out with the Lord, when you realized you were bought back and redeemed from your slavery to sin? You were looking for some patience and mercy as well weren’t you? Matthew 18:28-30 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owes. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. (KJV) So how have you handled things since your conversion, are patience and mercy still in play? Dearly loved, have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 5:46-48 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as you’re Father which is in heaven is perfect. (KJV)
When you see the word perfect being mentioned above it refers to maturity. Once you accept salvation as your new found way of life, you find that you can no longer compare yourself to those of this world; rather, the standards you live by are determined by the Lord. As you see above, God’s ways and thoughts totally contradict those we have been brought up with. You also find that in order to maintain peace with God it is according to spiritual maturity, not just reaching a certain age. James 3:1-2 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (KJV) If you read the entire book of James you will find the statement being made that we as believers in Christ should learn to be much quicker to hear, and slower to speak. We are encouraged not to be like the many who have assumed the position of teaching doctrines before they hear them first hand from God Himself. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God; however, one of the things that offends our Father the most is false teachings. James 3:3-5 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listed. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindles! (KJV) Only you can prevent spiritual fires that are fanned with winds of false doctrines that are dry and make good kindling. God’s people, those that He considers mature or perfect, are the ones that have rivers of living waters coming out of them like a fire hydrant. James 3:6-8 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (KJV) Your tongue is an extension of your heart; so what you allow into the heart is what will be coming out of the mouth. You cannot tame your heart or keep it bridled without some divine intervention. 1 Corinthians 13:9-11 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (KJV) The middle wall of partition was broken down by the sacrifice of our Lord so that we could see and operate with a more mature understanding of how the plan of salvation really operates. You will find that by speaking things you know, and not something that you just hear from others will go a long way toward you maturing in Christ the way He intended to see you, perfected. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (KJV)
The wisdom being referred to is a spiritual wisdom from above; revealed to those who desire to worship the Lord in Spirit, and just as importantly, in truth. Those who are referred to as perfect in verse 6 are the ones that have matured in Christ and are now walking in His wisdom, because they have walked away from their own. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (KJV) People have a partial understanding of things based on their limited outward interpretations; however, the real growth and maturity takes place when you eliminate the outward and see in the realm of the Spirit where you will have more of a perfect or mature understanding of how salvation truly works instead of being tossed back and forth like some dried out tumble weed in winds of doctrines. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (KJV) I can look back at some of the childish things that I have done even after having been born again; however, once I was able to get the blinders of my childish ways removed, I was able to see a more clear and perfect way of serving the Lord in the realm of the Spirit. Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. (KJV) There comes a point in every believer’s walk where they arrive at a crossroad, one where they either continue to walk closer to the Lord, or begin a downward spiral by walking back into the realm of the flesh. If you are going to truly mature in Christ and know His doctrine for yourself then you will find that you will need to remove the childish influences of your past in order to do so. Dearly loved, have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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