The Perfect Gift

 

Last night’s Christmas Eve Service brought words like, “This was perfect.” I saw a young child and thought how perfect he looked. We bought some goodies yesterday that we thought were perfect. Obviously, God’s work and law are perfect as He is perfect. However, the definition of perfect can vary depending on who is defining it.

In Scripture this word “perfect” is used for all sort of things, including buildings. Each verse that uses the word must be considered in its context and how it aligns with other Scripture. The idea of perfection cannot contradict other passages. Those who study original languages say this:

perfect — adjective. being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
to perfect — verb. to make complete of its kind and without defect or blemish.
to be perfected — verb. to be or become in a perfect or consummate state with respect to a specific attribute.
perfection — noun. the state of being complete and without defect or blemish.
complete — adjective. perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities.
perfect thing — noun. anything that is without flaw or defect.
perfecter — noun. a person who brings something to completion without defect or blemish.
perfection — noun. the act of making something complete and without defect or blemish.
perfection — noun. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept.

The New Testament depicts perfection or completion in terms of maturity or being fully grown into the design that God has for humanity. This means to be in the image and likeness of Christ, a designation only for those who are “in Christ” and part of His forever family.

The NT speaks of imparting wisdom to the mature: “Yet among the mature (perfected) we do impart wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 2:6) and it tells of power made perfect in weakness: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ((2 Corinthians 12:9) Both verses strongly say that perfection is not being without a need for wisdom and having weaknesses. 

Paul, who seem to be the epitome of a complete and totally devoted believer, also said of himself: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” (Philippians 3:12). He knew he was not yet perfect.

James calls for believers to “be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4) and other NT writers proclaim that we find perfection and completeness not in our own efforts, but “in Christ” who “by a single offering … perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14).

In other words, perfection is a goal but it is not obtained by my efforts nor will it show up in this life as a goal reached.

The Galatians tried and Paul told them: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) John encourages his readers with:

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)

From these verses and many more, I get the message that Christ is my perfection, that He is using all things to conform me to His image so that I think, talk, and live as He did, but I will not reach that level of completion until I see Him as He is. Further, no one can claim perfection in themselves for this is a gift from God. Jesus is not only the founder and perfecter of our faith, but abides in us to perfect our love for one another, and give us all that He is so we can glorify Him.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (James 1:16–18)

PRAY: Every good and perfect gift arrived as a Baby — and today we celebrate Your birth and rejoice in God’s gift to us — Your perfections are mine, now and forever. Today my weaknesses and flaws remain, even as Your perfections work to transform me. Needless to say, any maturity that shows up is still a gift from You and not my doing. For the gift of You, I am so grateful!

A perfectionist?

 

Amish quilters are reported to put mistakes in their beautiful quilts. They do it because “only God is perfect.” As a quiltmaker, my mistakes are not deliberate; as in life itself, they just happen. However, Jesus did say in Matthew 5:48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

PERFECT, at least in this text, means being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish. It can also be translated as mature, an English word easier to handle than the idea of perfection without defects.

In the OT, the word is usually applied to animals intended for sacrificial offerings. However, God is also described as perfect in His ways, His knowledge and His law . . .

2 Samuel 22:31. “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

Job 37:16. “Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge.”

Psalm 19:7. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.”

The NT word Jesus used to say God is perfect is “teleios” and can mean “perfect, mature, complete” or refer to something of the highest standard, or fully developed, or to be perfect or complete in a moral sense. In context, Jesus is telling me to love all, even my enemies, and do good to them just as God in common grace sends rain on both the just and the unjust.

1 Timothy 1:16 adds that Paul considered himself chief of sinners, but Jesus Christ was merciful to him to “display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

James 1:4 uses the same word concerning patience under trials. James says to realize the purpose of trials is to build patience and I am to cooperate in that process by letting “steadfastness have its full effect, that (I) may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” It helps to remember that this virtue reveals the depth of my faith — without patience, I reveal that I am not trusting the Lord.

This verses also echoes the words of the prophet in Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Trust and peace go hand in hand and for that, God grants perfect peace.

Another reason to trust God in trials is in Hebrews. It says Jesus was made perfect through suffering and by that become the source of my salvation. Suffering and learning from suffering puts me in good company.

James also uses this term concerning our speech: James 3:2, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” Since the commands of God reflect who He is and what He is like, from this I know my perfect God does not sin or fall short in what He says! He controls all that He does and His perfections show up in His Word and His actions. His will is perfect and knowing that changes the way I think about everything else . . .

Romans 12:2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. This goal seems impossible. Unlike the Amish, I don’t need to add mistakes to show I’m not perfect. My imperfections are easily seen, yet an odd thing about human inability to be perfect makes God’s people candidates for His perfections. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That is amazing! In other words, to be what God wants, I must rely totally on Him for I cannot be perfect by my own efforts. Being perfect cannot happen without being weak and unable.

Philippians 3:12 adds another thought. I have not obtained this or am perfect, but I press on to make it my own, in faith and trusting Christ Jesus who has made me his own. It is a learning curve with lessons taught in the classroom of trials and challenges. Yet there is reason to be joyful about trials. 1 John 3:2–3 could say something like this: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him perfects himself as he is perfect.” In the plan of God, one day I will be like Jesus and that hope makes the process easier — even though most of the time it doesn’t feel like it.

 

Climbing higher . . .

Someone once said to me that it must be easier to be a Christian as I get older. My first impulse was to give him a swat on the side of the head, proving that I still have some growing to do!

There is no coasting in the Christian life and there also is no retirement. God sets before me a goal. I am to press on toward that goal. If I stop, I am in a state of disobedience.

This morning I was wondering about fatigue and feeling listless. The word retirement may have come to mind. “Tired” definitely did. Spurgeon’s devotional didn’t address my lethargy, but Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest) hit the bull’s eye. He used this verse to tell me what I already knew:

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4)

God’s Word says the same thing in other places. The goal is perfection, fully like Jesus Christ. I know I am not there yet.

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:28)

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Chambers says that I can be all right in general but careless, even unkept or slovenly in some areas. He says this isn’t so much about sin as it is about “the remnants of the carnal life” adding that such slovenliness is an insult to the Holy Spirit. I don’t agree about this not being sin, but do agree that a lax attitude is an insult to God.

Nothing should be done in a careless way, whether it is eating and drinking, or how I worship God. My relationship to Him must be right, but also the external expression of that relationship. For instance, I’ve noticed how easy it is for God’s people to bring to the church items that they have replaced at home. Old sofas or outdated decor is offered to God. Is this one example of a slovenly and carnal expression of worship? Doesn’t He deserve the best that we have?

What about my attitude when I woke up this morning? I wanted to stay in bed, felt grumpy, and had little joy in my heart or any desire to get up and prepare for church. If I stay this way and go anyway, is this not another example of a carnal way of worship?

Chambers says, and I agree, that God will let nothing escape. Every detail of my life is under His scrutiny. If I do not learn how to be like Jesus in one area, He will bring me back to the same point over and over again until I learn the lesson. He has a goal for me and will not stop until the finished product rolls off the assembly line.

Those carnal areas show up in old age. If I like personal comfort, that will come out when my bones ache in the morning. If I am lazy, that will show up at the end of the day when I turn on the television instead of finishing a chore He has given me. If I like to compete and win over others, it will show up every time someone cuts me off in traffic even though I am driving the speed limit.

Growing older does not put God’s people at the top of a playground slide. It is more like standing at the bottom of a multistory skyscraper and being handed a ladder. He sees many levels that I have yet to conquer. His desire for my perfection is not only picky, but relentless.

I love the days that God turns my heart toward the wonder of my redemption and salvation. Yesterday’s reminder of my eternal security was a deep blessing. I know that I stand complete in Christ and am accepted in the Beloved because of Him. Yet the Holy Spirit whispers again to me that I am still a work in progress and that I must let endurance work in me. I must watch out for that attitude that is content with mediocrity or that says “Oh, that will have to do for now.”

****************

God, forgive and cleanse the laxness from my heart. Your goal never changes. You tell me to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord my labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58) and “to not grow weary of doing good, for in due season I will reap, if I do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). You also say that “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). I need all of this plus the fullness of Your Spirit to keep pressing on toward the goal.