Perfect = Complete
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! It was beautiful here in Charlotte. I cut down all my summer flowers, vines and bushes…barefoot!
I picked up a new book last week by Susie Shellenberger called “Raising a Spiritually Strong Daughter: Guiding Her Toward a Faith That Lasts”. Susie shed some light on a passage I had read before, but possible never truly understood.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 Perfect – great! One more thing for us to try to be; try to do. But Susie shared that in the Greek, “this word is not perfect as in determined by behavior. He isn’t saying we are to be perfect humans, which is impossible. He’s describing the word perfect as in being whole with our heavenly Father. God wants to perfect your heart. He wants to make you complete. He wants your wholeness to be found in Him.”
My whole heart just said “awwwwww”. Reading that brought so much peace! What He wants of me and for me is wholeness and that wholeness is found in Him.
Thank you Jesus, that instead of laying a heavy burden on me, once again You are giving something TO me! You are always SO good!
If there are any of my friends near the Atlanta area, I will be speaking next week, November 6th in Roswell, Georgia at Northbrook United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Laura at [email protected]. We are going to have a great time!
Hi Lynn- thanks for the book recommendations for me and my boys! melanie
Lynn,
Wow, in all the research I have done, I have never studied the history of the word "perfect"as used in this verse. It is so freeing to hear your words. Really, God wants to make us whole and perfect IN HIM…not in ourselves, in who we are, in who we can be. Thank you for this message today!!!
Blessings,
Wendy
What a relief that we don't have to be perfect, Lynn. Susie's book sounds good. I think I'll add it to my ever growingChristmas wish-list. I'm sure I could glean things for my 14 yr old daughter.
Have a good time at your speaking engagement!
I just asked Teri at the Proverbs 31 office to order this book for others to have. Just go to http://www.Proverbs31.org soon and you'll be able to find it!
Hey girl! Great post!
Also, I am so glad you got to meet Aster last week. But I was so sad I didn't get to take a picture of her with you or Kristen. We'll have to try that again soon!
Hugs,
Renee