Walking In God’s Perfection In This Imperfect World

Recently I have been thinking about God’s perfect number seven. In both Hebrew and Greek this number means wholeness, completeness, and maturity, and all that God does is done with completeness and perfection. God’s perfection is not defined by earthy terms, for we live in a very imperfect world. It has to do with qualities of character and having a part in the perfectness of God. Matthew 5:48 says, “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This verse appears in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus talks about attitudes that are in line with his character and an expression of spiritual maturity. Six times in this sermon Jesus says, “You have heard it said,” followed by the word “but,” as Jesus goes on to expound that there is a better way to deal with personal, relational, religious, and cultural issues of life. I have chosen six Bible verses that talk about how to experience God’s perfectness.

One, God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:30), and the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul (Psalm 19:7). This means to read, study, and meditate on His inspired eternal word, the Bible.

Two, in the middle of our troubled world one can experience God’s perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “God will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on him.”

Three, perfect love is mentioned in 1 John 4:13-18. In this context perfect love is abiding in the love of God, with no fear of judgment, because “perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 12:9-21 tell how to exhibit God’s perfect love. I encourage you to read those passages.

Four, it is possible to be in the perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2). However, there are three conditions: 1)Do not be conformed to this world, 2)Be transformed in your thinking, and 3)Be tested to discern what is his will.

Five, God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), through his sufficient grace. When we go through times of serious illness or testing, our weakness is perfected by God’s grace.

Six, the most important perfectness is the one expressed in Hebrews 10:12-14. When Jesus died on the cross he was the perfect sacrifice for your sins and mine, and therefore, “he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. If you have Jesus as your Savior you are being perfected into his character, no matter what your past has been.

Developing the perfectness of God, however, requires going through testing. James 1:3-4 says, “…the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God’s perfection leaves nothing undone. It is final and complete! Philippians 1:6 tells us, “I am sure of this, that God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This should be a great cause of rejoicing. How do see God perfecting you in any of these six ways?