Every preacher knows (or should know) that you must live your messages before you can give your messages to others. As someone mentioned to me recently, maybe that is why preachers often avoid the hard messages.
The last few months have been tough as my messages have centered around seeking more of God. How can I tell people to uncomplicate their lives, unless I uncomplicate mine? How can I tell others they must decrease, if I refuse to do so? How do I encourage others to embrace God’s will, His plan, His Word, if I demand my own? Yep, it’s been a rough couple of months.
So, of course, what comes up this morning but Paul’s words as He closes out his second letter to the Corinth Church.
“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you…. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” [2 Cor 13:11-14]
Aim for perfection? Other translations simply say, “Be perfect” or “Become perfect.” Thankfully, the word for perfect or perfection in the Greek (katartizo) means to thoroughly complete, repair or adjust.
I am sure that we are never going to achieve perfect perfection in this lifetime, but we can aim for it. We can desire to become complete in Christ Jesus our LORD. His grace, God’s love and the Spirit’s fellowship will be with us as we walk this journey, and with us when we complete it!
