August 10, 2017 Devotions
Your G-d is Too Small – Absolute Perfection 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 

We often say that “Only G-d was perfect on earth in the person of Jesus Christ”. When we say this we try to excuse away our own failings and inadequacies. And yes, Jesus is considered to be both Human and Divine – simultaneously – it is one of our dogmas, or universal teachings about Jesus Christ. But if we focus too much on the concept of the “Perfection of G-d” we can easily fall into the trap of believing that our failed behaviors are excused away, and so why try to change. But in the church, if we focus too much on the perfection of G-d, we too can easily mis-understand perfection thinking our ministry and worship should also be “perfect”. The idea of perfect ministry, music, decisions and worship as standards for actions is an unachievable standard. This ideal will do more to drive people away from church and ministry than it will to coax them into service.

When we strive for perfection, we seek more a performance standard than we do seeking to be servants. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be someone who is in the act of learning as well as doing. Jesus’ own disciples were not perfect – in fact they seem more like the “Keystone Cops” then they do saints. So, if your G-d is a G-d who expects perfection from all people, then your G-d is Too Small. G-d is perfection. We are by nature sinful and unclean. As such, we are a people, as Paul states who “press toward the mark to win the prize for which G-d has called us”. Paul does not claim to be seeking perfection – he is simply pressing forward, striving and straining toward the prize, but never achieving it. Getting to the winners circle happens when we die and finally see Jesus face to face – for now we only see him as if in a reflection from a fogged mirror. Our G-d is big enough to welcome imperfect people into the Kingdom to sit at the Heavenly Banquet. If G-d expected perfection, the Kingdom would be a lonely place – the banquet would have empty seats. (Themes come from the book “Your God Is Too Small” by J. B. Phillips)

Pastor Dave