Do you know someone who is perfect?

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If I were to ask you to think of a perfect person, who would you think of? Do you know anyone who is perfect?

Some may have said, yes, I know The Perfect Person (Jesus Christ). Others may have said, yes, I know this one guy/girl who is perfect. Still others may have said, no, the perfect person doesn't exist. Whatever your answer was to the question above, you would have used some sort of evaluation matrix or mental checklist, a benchmark of perfection to measure or discern whether someone is perfect.

This may vary from person to person. We don't all evaluate things (or people) in the same way. Something I would describe as perfect might not even come close to being perfect in your eyes. Like the perfect poem, or the perfect sunrise. The perfect wedding, or the perfect rugby game at a World Cup Final which the Springboks won against England, 32-12...

Perfection can be very subjective.

But Jesus, in Matthew 5:48, tells the crowds He is teaching to 'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' Jesus expects perfection. But how does He evaluate perfection? What does perfection look like for Christ?

Before this verse, Jesus teaches the crowds gathered around Him about love for enemies. He basically says that it's no good only loving your friends and those you agree with, but to love everyone. Even those who persecute. Even those who have different opinions. Even enemies. This is what truly sets children of God apart from the rest of the world. We love everyone. Or at least, we ought to love everyone...

To love someone does not necessarily mean we agree with everything they do or believe. To love someone does not mean that we have to look at things the same way as others do. To love means being patient, being kind; not being jealous or prideful; not dishonouring others, not being self-seeking or easily angered, and not keeping records of wrongs. To love means to rejoice with the truth; to protect, to trust, to hope and to always persevere (according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

May we know God's perfect love for us. May we, wherever we are, use every opportunity to love instead of hate; to disagree respectfully and to pray for those who want to be our enemies, because of God's perfect love for us.

Selah

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