“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. -Matthew 5: 43-48

Anyone less than perfect in the house? *Both hands raised* “Be perfect, just as I am perfect” is a pretty regular impression that comes in my prayers, a seemingly tall order, and admittedly something I’ve struggled with.  I mean, as a society we default to a mantra, of “no one’s perfect”, and from a human perspective this remains true.  As it pertains to faith…I think we all have to admit that we squirm, reminded once again how far our actions seem to pull us from the perfection of Christ.  

It sounds impossible.

Yet He commands it.

Would Jesus tell you to be something He knew you couldn’t be?  Demand impossible behavior?  No….although loving, even blessing those who harm you has to be done in His strength.  HIS love.

HOW?

Please notice: Christ commands love before he references the perfection.  He commands the love, and no wonder.  Agape love is the core of who He is and every good and perfect thing flows from Him.  But the perfection: it’s not a command: it’s a byproduct.  A manifestation of His agape love at work in you.

Love well, my friends.  He does and we are his masterpiece, His image.  Go, pressing on toward perfection, but know you aren’t the one who accomplishes it.  Perfect love is by definition perfect.  Love “that guy”.  Yeah, even him.  Even her.  Bet if you knew that person’s story it would be easy, although love is our calling whether we know their story or not. Appreciate love when it’s easy, and do your very best to love when it’s hard.  Because as you allow Christ’s love to flow through you, the gifted consequence is your perfection, in Him.

Your perfection flows from His love. It’s in the way you express it to others.  Let His, your, perfection flow.