"Be perfect, therefore,
    as your heavenly Father is perfect."
                                    (Matthew 5:48)

This line,
    spoken by Jesus,
is the summary statement
    for a host of collected teachings of Jesus,
including the Beatitudes.
    So, with this context in mind,
what does it mean to be perfect like God?

    Act with humility.
        Love.
    Speak honestly.
        Forget about getting even.
    Make peace.
        Extend grace.

In other words,
    display these God-like qualities,
and "be perfect."

"Be perfect" isn't a call to sinlessness
    (as we've often thought,
and which we know, as humans, is impossible),
    but to carry God's compassion everywhere.

This may bring a sense of relief–
    I could never have been perfect!–
but it also removes the excuse–
    Since I could never be perfect, why even try?–
and leaves you with the doable challenge–
    Hard as it is, I can be more honest,
        more compassionate,
            less vengeful,
        more generous,
            humbler,
        kinder…

So go out there and be perfect today,
    just like God…

Text and image © 2020 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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