Chasing Perfection

Recently, a common theme in my life is perfection (or the pursuit of perfection.) Even "trying to be a better person" has seemed to cause a stumbling block for a friend lately.

Of course I won't go into the details, just know that a particular friend is dealing with forgiveness of herself. I may not have the exact same issues, but I realize that I also have trouble forgiving myself (and sometimes others) when I make a mistake. I really beat myself up if I lose self-control or get angry - realizing I could have set a more godly example or been more loving. I feel like I am ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit and it makes me feel unworthy.

But wait! I AM UNWORTHY! That's right! I sin regularly. I just forget about the "little things" I focus so much on the "major things" because it is socially acceptable to sin in some ways. But God did not call us to be perfect. Even if we strive as hard as we can, we won't achieve it. I feel like I am like my dog...can't be perfect, my master knows it, but my dog trys so hard to please me (and I try to please HIM!) I just want to make God happy with me. I want to be obedient and then when I get in my own way, I feel deflated, no good, not worthy. I talked with my friend and she felt the same way. In fact, it is a common condition that we have and I think it is a sneaky way for the enemy of our souls to get in and convince us of our failures to take away our focus on God's victory.

So...I started thinking and reading through scripture...What does GOD want?

> If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about - but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:2-3

> But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

So, I see that I am not justified by what I do and I know there is a ton more scripture to back that up, but then I was thinking about the passage (also in Romans) that says that we should "go and sin no more..." So I continued reading and found this: "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace!!!!" Romans 6:14 Woo hoo! So sin will not master me! Even if I make a mistake, it will not rule me and God is not counting it against me.

Then, I thought back to the people listed in the "Hall of Faith in Hebrews." I was thinking through the stories of so many of them. They loved God with all of their heart, but they sinned regularly. The didn't "mean to" but just like us, they did. They weren't listed in Hebrews 11 because of the great works they had done. (Moses was a murderer - I haven't done that one!) They were listed there because "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Hebrews 11:1-2 and "...instead they were looking for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:16

I just thank God that I can be used where I am. I am going to continue to try to please Him. But at the same time, I will be willing to use my own weakness to let others know they are not alone. It is only through our commitment to Him that we earn His pleasure. Let me please keep my eyes on the Lord, the Maker of heaven and Earth! Amen.