Episode 62: Be perfect

July 26, 2023David Lambert
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I find some of the commandments in the Bible pretty overwhelming, don't you? It's not much trouble for me not to murder someone, but it is hard for me to not call someone a fool in my heart. I can manage myself well enough to avoid physically committing adultery, but controlling myself to never have any lustful thoughts can be a challenge. There's another commandment, one that Jesus gave, that seems like it's just too much to ask. The command is in today's passage.

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. (Matt.5:43-48)

Jesus begins today's passage by telling His followers, and us, to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors. That’s not what I’m prone to do. How about you? He goes on to tell us ways in which our Father in Heaven treats both righteous and unrighteous people. For example, He sends the sun and the rain to everyone, whether they love Him or not. We all need those things to live. Then He encourages us to love people who don't love us and greet them like we would greet our friends. He adds to these already challenging words that we are to be perfect in the same way as our Heavenly Father is perfect. How do you like that one? All you and I have to do in order to obey Jesus is to be perfect in the same way that our Heavenly Father is perfect. From the context of Jesus' remarks, it seems to me that He is connecting being perfect with loving our enemies. Today, consider your own relationship with Jesus. Is your relationship making you better at loving people who don't love you, people who might even be your adversaries? If not, today is a great day to repent! Christianity is not about following a set of rules; it's about loving Jesus and becoming more like Him.

If Jesus says do it, we must be able to do it. He will help us to love our enemies if we're willing to submit our will to His will...and when we do, that’s very Good News!

© 2023 David Lambert
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