Thursday 12 Apr 2012

Thursday Reading: Matthew 5:48

Key Verse: Matthew 5:48
48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Devotion:
Another emotive verse... If we are all being called sinners and we have already been told that none of us have any hope of being perfect, then what should be be aiming for? The answer is within the verses that surround this verse – the very reason why I have left them out is so that you will spend just a little time to look them up today to find out what I am on about. It is far too easy to have everything put on a plate and to eat from that plate. It is far too easy to have everything explained so that you don’t have to think. But sometimes we need to take a step back and think about what is being said to us so that we can understand more!

The bible is complete – but it is not the complete works of and instructions from God. Yes it is God’s Word and we don’t need people adding to it or taking away from it. But God has placed us on this little planet in this little solar system so that we can learn more about His Majesty and His ways. God does not want us to be robots who just follow what is written down to the tee and do nothing outside of the box. God wants each one of us to grow up into our own individual selves so that each one of us can make our own personal decision to follow Him and believe on Him.

So when He tells us in these words that we need to be perfect just as our God in Heaven is perfect – how are we supposed to be able to do that? It is all in the words that come before this verse and even those that come after it. Last week we were reminded of the tremendous love that our Father has for us and the awesome love that Christ displayed for us. And it is within that constraint of love that these verses are aimed at us. We need to strive to be perfect in our love for others.

Even the vilest of men have friends whom they greet kindly and even treat with respect. So why should we not be able to show kindness and respect for those around us? Christ showed us the ultimate kindness and love when He went to the cross even before we started sinning. He died for ever person that is going to wrong Him. He did not say that He would only die for those who first believe in Him, but rather died and then reminded us that we should believe in Him. Christ was willing to serve the sentence before the crime was committed – and that crime was not even committed by Him, but rather by us! What perfect love He displayed – a love that we need to aim to attain!

Points to Ponder:
Do you aim to be perfect in Love?

Are you looking back to see what Christ actually did for you?