A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (April 16,2018)
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
What do you think when you read the scripture “Be ye therefore perfect”? Most people just skip over that and think there is no way. We look at our own life and quickly see a lot of imperfections and think that is just impossible. Is it??? Listen to what the scripture says about Noah who was a just man, but was also just a man.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
Let’s look at that word “perfect” a little closer. The word used for perfect in the Hebrew is “tamiym” which means entire, complete, whole, upright, sincere, full of integrity and truth. The word used in the Greek is “teleios” which means complete and of full age. As we consider these definitions, and read the scriptures, we see that there is a growing and maturing factor that is an integral part of perfection.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We also see that perfection is compared to the maturity of a fruit producing tree that can be stunted and choked by the things of this world. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luke 8:14)
We also see that certain types of religions that concentrate on legalism and letter-of-the-law type teachings can get you off track. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh (Galatians 3:3)?
The answer is that perfection is a spirit and heart issue, not a flesh and works issue. The signature of God is perfection! That is who He is and that is where He wants to take all of us. All you have to do is look at the descriptions of Heaven and you will get the picture. No sickness, no pain, no tears, streets of gold, etc. All you have to do is look at Jesus, who was God in the flesh, to see perfection!!!
Be ye therefore perfect!!! Let’s walk with, and love God, with all our hearts. Let’s be not conformed to this world. Let’s renew our minds with the Word of God and not let the cares of this world or religious traditions get us off track. Let’s be guided by the Holy Spirit, and worship the Lord. If we do these things we will all grow and mature into the men and women of God that we can be (perfect).
