Can We Be Perfect?

To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that? You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:45-48 Amplified

Be perfect. Perfect—without fault. Wow. That is a big order. Be good and kind, do what is right. Those things we can do, but “be perfect” is a hard one. We think of only Jesus being perfect. So we must strive to be like Jesus. These Amplified Bible verses gives some further guidance…maturing in Christian character—especially with virtue and integrity. Virtue or moral excellency and integrity or honesty are Christian traits that are of utmost value. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. Proverbs 11:3. Love others…neighbors and enemies…with utmost virtue and integrity. That would be what Jesus would do. So that is what we should do—to be perfect like Jesus.

RSVP: Jesus is calling His followers to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is…like He is. How will you respond to Him today? 

Prayer ~ Dear Heavenly Father…just as it is written in James 1:2-4…We consider it all joy, when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its perfect result, so that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Perfect…like Jesus.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.