Jesus demands nothing short of obedience, perfection, and holiness. If you do not believe me, try reading your Bible sometime. That is the Christian's goal. But here is how you and I have been conditioned to think and act: "I'm never going to be perfect anyway, so I'll just do the bare minimum and aim for imperfection." Guess what? When you aim at nothing, when you put the bar low at imperfection, you'll hit it every time.
Here is the sad thing, though. While we think and act this way in regard to God and the Christian life, it is rather ironic that in every other area of life we do the complete opposite. Or would a better word be hypocritical? When we want to do a certain thing or learn a particular skill, or language, etc., all of a sudden we no longer have low bars. We aim high. We try and try and strive until we achieve that goal and come as close to perfection as possible. But when it comes to the things of God and the Christian life, we are lazy. We are not willing to strive for perfection and holiness. We are disbelievers in the promises God has given us. We do not trust God and our actions prove it.
How often does Scripture speak in regard to renewing our minds? When our thinking is right, then our actions will be right. When we believe right, then our behaviour will be right. Were Paul's words in vain? Was he telling us how to live the Christian life just for the sake of spewing forth words? "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1); "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Cor. 9:24). The goal is Christ-likeness. Perfection. Holiness. Are you aiming for it?
The more you strive for perfection and holiness, the more you aim high at achieving it, the more you will become like Christ and less like yourself. "He must increase and I must decrease" (John 3:30). You will never attain perfection until Christ glorifies you at His second coming, but that is no excuse for not striving for it now. If you do not put forth the effort, how can you hope to ever achieve it? If the world is going to look at you and see a change, you need to be striving for that change day-in and day-out so that you can be the salt and the light.
"You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). "Be holy, as I am holy" (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet 1:16). Those are commandments from Jesus Christ; not suggestions. When you aim high and strive for the goal, you will see progressive changes. When you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time and see no changes. Everything begins with obedience. When the Christian is obedient, out of love for his/her Saviour, striving to become more like Him is no chore. Out of that obedience perfection and holiness will naturally and progressively grow. It is impossible not to when you have the Holy Spirit and are sensitive to His leading. Remember, He is working in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. God is capable of doing all that He has said He will do. Do you believe Him?
Here is the sad thing, though. While we think and act this way in regard to God and the Christian life, it is rather ironic that in every other area of life we do the complete opposite. Or would a better word be hypocritical? When we want to do a certain thing or learn a particular skill, or language, etc., all of a sudden we no longer have low bars. We aim high. We try and try and strive until we achieve that goal and come as close to perfection as possible. But when it comes to the things of God and the Christian life, we are lazy. We are not willing to strive for perfection and holiness. We are disbelievers in the promises God has given us. We do not trust God and our actions prove it.
How often does Scripture speak in regard to renewing our minds? When our thinking is right, then our actions will be right. When we believe right, then our behaviour will be right. Were Paul's words in vain? Was he telling us how to live the Christian life just for the sake of spewing forth words? "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1); "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Cor. 9:24). The goal is Christ-likeness. Perfection. Holiness. Are you aiming for it?
The more you strive for perfection and holiness, the more you aim high at achieving it, the more you will become like Christ and less like yourself. "He must increase and I must decrease" (John 3:30). You will never attain perfection until Christ glorifies you at His second coming, but that is no excuse for not striving for it now. If you do not put forth the effort, how can you hope to ever achieve it? If the world is going to look at you and see a change, you need to be striving for that change day-in and day-out so that you can be the salt and the light.
"You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). "Be holy, as I am holy" (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet 1:16). Those are commandments from Jesus Christ; not suggestions. When you aim high and strive for the goal, you will see progressive changes. When you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time and see no changes. Everything begins with obedience. When the Christian is obedient, out of love for his/her Saviour, striving to become more like Him is no chore. Out of that obedience perfection and holiness will naturally and progressively grow. It is impossible not to when you have the Holy Spirit and are sensitive to His leading. Remember, He is working in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. God is capable of doing all that He has said He will do. Do you believe Him?