Good morning. I would like to share with you a brief verse of scripture. It isn’t long, but it can be scary, downright terrifying in fact.
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
What is so scary about those words? The very thought that we are to be “perfect” in the same way that God is perfect, let alone that these are the words of Jesus spoken not as a suggestion but as a command, could give any of us cause for concern.
Before we panic, perhaps we should take a closer look at what is being said. The context of this verse is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7. The exact context is Jesus telling us: You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
The perfect standard we are to share with God the Father is that of His love. We are to love as He loves. Not only are we to love the lovable, but also the unlovely, perhaps even more so. This, Jesus tells us, is what it means to be God’s kids. We take after Him in all the important ways, and since He is love (1 John 4:7-8) we too must accept the substance of love at the core of our being.
Being perfect in love as God is perfect in love isn’t intended to be a frightening idea. It is in fact, a thought of hope and of joyful expectation. Obviously, such love is not typical of this world, it can come only from God our Father. But He is very willing to share that powerful love. It comes to us, as we call for it, through our relationship with Jesus.
Don’t be afraid, love the unlovable. God is good for it!
Vern