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Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(NIV)


The bar is raised. The standard is set. We are to be perfect. "How perfect?" you might ask. As perfect as God himself. We, like all sons, are to be like our heavenly Father. We are to be as perfect as He is.

What do you do with a verse like this? You can't get rid of it. You can't throw it out. There is no ignoring it. You can try, but that won't work.

In the context, it is a summary. All of the things that Jesus has been saying so far, are summarized with this.

I am sure that there is someone out there that is already saying, "but we can never reach that goal!" And I would like to thank that person for reminding us all of that. Our inability to be perfect has brought about the need for a savior. But the savior has not nullified the goal. Just because he has come to pay the penalty, does not mean that we are to stop striving. In fact, the savior has made the goal possible!

In the book of Romans, we are told that whoever is justified will be sanctified, and the person who is sanctified, will eventually be glorified! We will one day attain the perfection thanks to the savior who was our perfection, when we didn't deserve it!

I would like to encourage you today to continue in Christ. He is our perfection.
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