Our reading today is Matthew 5:48
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Jesus didn’t say, “Be flawless.” He said, “Be perfect.”
The Greek word “teleios” doesn’t mean without error, it means mature, whole, complete. Like a tree that’s grown tall and strong, bearing fruit in every season. Jesus isn’t calling us to a life of spotless performance, though we should always do our best. He is calling us to a heart that mirrors the Father’s love.
Just before this verse, Jesus paints a picture of divine love: God sends sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. He doesn’t ration His kindness. He doesn’t withhold His mercy. His love is not a reward. It’s a reflection of who He is.
“Be Perfect” means to love like that.
To love:
–The friend and the foe.
–The neighbor and the nuisance.
–The one who thanks you and the one who wounds you.
Perfection isn’t about never stumbling. It’s about loving. It’s about letting God stretch our hearts until they look a more like His.
You may not get every word right. You may not always respond with grace. But if you’re growing in love, if you’re learning to forgive, to bless, to reach across the divide, then you’re walking in the way of perfection. Not flawless, but full of love.
Just like your Father.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.