“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 5:46-48

This year I’m going for perfection, Jesus style.

Maybe.

See, I can do that stuff he talks about in this scripture. I can love my enemies. I frequently include people who I think are jerks in my prayers! And I’ve been known to actually say hello to strangers on the elevator.

Maybe being perfect isn’t that hard?

Oh wait, that’s not the only scripture where Jesus talks about being perfect. The second scripture is a little more… challenging.

Here’s what Jesus says to a rich young man who thought he’d done everything he needed to do:

“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

Alrighty, then.

Is it just me, or is that second passage a lot harder than the first one?

This second scripture sounds like a complete relinquishment of everything I have. It sounds like a total sacrifice. It sounds ridiculously difficult.

And that makes me think maybe I should reevaluate the first scripture. When Jesus talks about loving our enemies, maybe he’s going deeper than the lip service I usually give it.

In fact, what if both passages are really talking about the same thing? That idea of relinquishment, letting go of all selfishness. A complete deconstruction of literally everything that keeps me from fully loving God and neighbor.

Woah.

That might mean more than just praying for jerks, or waving at strangers. It might mean giving away my anger, my fear, my distance, my preconceived notions, and certainly my sinful nature, so as to push past any artificial boundaries I have placed between myself and others.

Suddenly, perfection seems a lot farther away.

This is the part where preachers, myself included, begin qualifying things, tempering these statements by Jesus to make them sound somehow attainable without the complete disruption of our lives.

To do so lessens the enormity of Jesus’ challenge for us.

The truth is, I don’t think I’m ready to be perfect yet. That kind of love requires giving up some things I’m not yet fully ready to give up.

So what does that mean for my new year? Do I settle back into mediocrity, shrugging off any thoughts of perfection?

No, that’s where sanctification comes in. It’s this lifelong journey to grow in holiness, to grow in love of God and neighbor.

John Wesley believed people could actually reach such a state, which he called Christian Perfection, but that it was a rare thing to be achieved in this life.

I doubt I’ll reach that in the next twelve months, but I can dedicate myself to trying.

More love, less selfishness. That’s the goal. All I can do is keep practicing…

and you know what practicing makes, right?

(Ask me next year. )

Have a good week,

Mitch

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Mitch posts 3 devotions a week — new and gently used. 🙂