Christian Living
You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. {Matthew 5:48 Amp Bible}
As I was reading a devotional in my Bible, I came across a particular passage that stayed in my mind:
* A Christian who gave a Bible to an acquaintance asked him some time later if he had read it.
"Yes," said the man, "and what is more, I have found you out. You are not as good as your Book!"
My first reaction was, "I'm SO glad that wasn't me!" but then God convicted my heart because the reality is.....it could have been. It could have been any one of us. Some non-believers' best defense is indeed the Christian community itself. At any given time, there is always something in us that is just not right. That, however, is not the failure, but the unwillingness to recognize it and lay it down before Christ is where we fall short. For some, the issues are flagrant displays of iniquity. For others, they are hidden in the heart...hard to find.....easy to ignore. But the Bible says: He [God] will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. {1 Corinthians 4:5}
It's usually a gentle and almost comforting transition to the "good enough" state. Among other things, if you:
•have ever said (or thought!), "Well, at least I never did THAT!"......
You probably think you're good enough!
•believe you are not involved in any sinful activity whatsoever.....
You probably think you're good enough!
•coined the phrase, "Jesus loves me just the way I am."
You probably think you're good enough!
•are mixed up in something that would make a non-believer blush but faithfully mark "Christian" on applications and surveys
You probably think you're good enough!
Then he [Jesus] said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. {Luke 9:23-24}
I LOVE that scripture! Notice Jesus didn't say one should take up his cross when he feels like it or when he remembers, but DAILY if he wants to follow Him. EVERYDAY requires us to make a sacrifice and a choice. We must push down ourselves to lift Him high. We cannot let complacent attitudes inhibit our growth.
God forgive us should we foolishly believe we have 'arrived'; can't get any better; are not in need of improvement; are good enough.
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. {Colossians 1:10-12}
No matter where we are on our Christian walk, we CAN be better. Jesus certainly does love us the way we are! But He did great things for us and He expects us to run with that! We will not reach our finish line until we reach our King so we must ALWAYS be working toward our goal. Not one of us is "good enough" until our God makes it so. Along with faith and love, growth is a key component to Christianity. When we continuously build on our character, moral content, strength and obedience, we become awesome witnesses for Christ, AND we grow closer to God and closer to joy!
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. {Philippians 3:12-15}
* From the Everyday with Jesus Bible with Devotionals by Selwyn Hughes
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