perfection

Hi precious questies! So last night one of you told me that she was struggling with the expectation of feeling perfect in everything, that she is really hard on herself and critical all the time. I want to share this with you because I think this is a key factor to our walk with the Lord!

In the Old Testament times the people had the law to abide by. They were obedient to the law (the 10 commandments), because they would be judged by God for this, but when Jesus came, died, and resurrected, we were set free from the law. This means that we no longer live a life focused on obeying the law, but rather loving Christ and making our lives a reflection of who he is. You probably find yourself, at times, looking around at your nonbelieving friends and thinking, man, they are so free to do whatever they want. They don’t have to make right decisions, they can do, say, and feel whatever they want. Proverbs 23:17 says, “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.” It is kind of crazy to think that we would envy sinners, but we do sometimes. We think man, they are free, but really they are living in bondage to their sin, they just don't know it. WE are the ones who are free. You are free from the law, free from sin, free to love Christ with all your heart. He has chosen you, and you will never be perfect like him. You are to be reminded of his greatness daily through your sin in realizing how badly you need Christ. Let your imperfection be a reminder to you of God’s greatness in that he chose you… not of the weight and power of your sin. He chose you regardless of what decisions you have made and will make in the future. In John chapter 15 it says, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” That is so key. You cannot bear fruit (do good deeds) without him. If you try and be perfect you are missing the point all together. We should not aim for perfection, but rather aim for Jesus. Keep your eyes on the cross. Not on yourself. Get the focus off of you and put it on Jesus. It continues into verse five, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” We can do nothing without him! He is our rock and our strength. We must stop looking inwardly to ourselves and our imperfection and shift our gaze up to the cross and the sacrifice Christ has made for us!

He loves you guys! He will be pleased in you for the condition of your heart being focused on him; for if your heart is sold out, your actions will mirror your heart. We make the mistake of it being backwards, perfect actions and then perfect heart, when Christ intended for it to be a Christ centered heart, and then actions that reflect him will follow that.

Focus on him… not on perfection!

I love you!

Lindsey

P.S. Happy Easter! Christ is Risen!