A Call to Completeness

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

This verse can be quite intimidating, if you do not know the meaning of the word “perfect”.  I mean how many people do you know that have achieved perfection on this earth.  Yikes, I have to say I haven’t found any and I myself have quite a few imperfections.  That’s why it is so important to look into what the word perfect means.  What is the context of this verse?  What is Jesus calling us to when He calls us to a life of perfection?  Well, let’s take a look into the Greek meaning of the word “perfect”.

The word “Perfect” in the Greek means: finished, wanting nothing, and complete.  Alright, that doesn’t sound so bad.  Let’s place that in the verse and see how it sounds.  “Be complete, therefore, as your heavenly Father is complete.”  Wow, a life of completeness.  Now that sounds like the kind of life I want to live!   Well, if you take a look even further into Scripture you will find a few who walked away from this kind of life.  In fact, let’s take a look at one.

There was a rich young man who came to Jesus and asked what he must do to get eternal life.  There was an exchange back and forth between Jesus and the young man.  Jesus told him he must obey the commandments and the young man simply replied, “All these I have kept,” the young man said.  “What do I still lack (Matthew 19:20)?”  This is where it gets interesting, as Jesus responds with these words…

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Jesus offered a life of completeness to the young man.  But if you read on in Scripture you will find the young man walked away with sorrow because he had great wealth.He gave up a life of answers, for the life that has endless questions.  He couldn’t imagine giving up his wealth.  The wealth of this world tricks us into thinking that we will never have enough.  God wants us to understand that the treasures of heaven are far greater than this world could ever offer us.  A life complete in Jesus is a life filled with promise and meaning.  Will you follow the One who offers a life of completeness?  Let’s look at what a life of completeness looks like:

A life complete in Jesus means…

1.  No more worrying about tomorrow.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~Matthew 6:33-34

2.  No more searching for the answers.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  ~John 14:6

3.  It means your adopted to the family of God.

“To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” ~Galatians 4:5 (KJV)

4.  It means peace during the storms in life.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” ~Isaiah 43:2 

5.  It means I’m loved for who I am, not what I can do.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works so that no one can boast.” ~Ephesians 2:8-9 

6.  It means someone has a plan for me, my days will be filled with adventure.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”~Jeremiah 29:11 

7.  It means there will always be Someone in my life who will not fail me.

“Blessed is he whose hope is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them– the Lord who remains FAITHFUL FOREVER.” ~Psalm 146:5-6 

8.  It’s a life filled with promise and possibility.

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 3:12-14 

9.  It means all things will eventually work out for good in my life.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ~Romans 8:28 

10.  Most of all, it means forgiveness for my sins and a love that forgets.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” ~Psalm 103:11-12 

Please feel free to share more promises about the complete life in Jesus.  I would enjoy hearing them, as would those who read these devotionals!

Dear Father God, Thank You for giving me a complete life through Your Son.  Honestly, thank You does not seem adequate enough for all that You have given me.  I pray that my life will be lived out in a way that says thank You every day.  May my life be honoring to You and may I always seek to glorify You!  Help me to live a complete life through Your Son Jesus Christ!

Living the Complete Life,