Hebrews 5: 8-9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…”

Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity…”

Have you ever stopped and taken the time to examine a rose garden ?  Do you notice that despite the difficulties and being surrounded by thorns the rose brush pushes on to become the best it can be, aka perfect. It does not stop at being a bud but blooms and opens itself to receive the sunshine and brightens its world. In the process it makes others stop to praise the gardener for the awesome work.

Jesus was perfect: flawless and complete, mature & well-rounded.  Precisely because Jesus knew and knows what is means to be human : highs & lows, ups &downs, joys & sorrows, triumphs & tragedies, successes & failures, prosperity & adversity, plenty& scarcity, temptation &frustration, sickness & health and ultimately life & death; he knows what we go through daily and can help us when we go through these things.  He is able to save and intercede for us.  

We are therefore called to strive to become complete, mature, well-rounded, well prepared, broadly experienced, inclusive in one’s dealing with people, able to handle any kind of person or situation” like Jesus.  Like the rose, God wants us to move on to maturity and not stay in one place.  How do we mature? By learning experientially through each and every situation to obey (listen to, trust in and respond to) the Triune God  (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) in our times of highs & lows, ups &downs, joys & sorrows, triumphs & tragedies, successes & failures, prosperity &adversity, plenty& scarcity, temptation &frustration, sickness & health , and ultimately life & death.

Oftentimes we face problems such as difficulties in understanding, not taking the path of discipleship, not seriously taking or knowing our doctrine, not exercising the disciplines (prayer, reading the word etc.) and non-utilization of discernment.  However, when we call on Jesus all things are possible.  Jesus gives us what it takes to strive towards perfection while living with imperfection at the levels of the physical and spiritual in the following ways: 

Firstly though we are live with limitations God wants us to long for completeness. We should desire that transformation, to live beyond the limitations.  Secondly, God want us to know that time is a season of our lives and yet His timing is impeccable.  While we are going through our situation, know that the time is coming when God will make all things beautiful in His time. However, we should actively seek Jesus’ timing not practice resignation.   Thirdly, we need to be open to what Jesus is doing.   How open are we to the unusual things that God is doing in our lives?  Are we willing to move beyond a closed, fatalistic mind? God wants an openness of mind, body & spirit so that we perceive what God is doing in our world.  Our openness should be characterized by obedience, to live the way of Christ.  Fourthly, God wants us to be honest about the reality of life.  God wants us to stop pretending that all is well when it is not.  Honesty is what will lead others to him.  Honesty is married with humility as we need to admit that God is God and we are not. We do not always know what God is up to and we need to admit we are waiting on God’s intervention (e.g. Hannah).  Fifthly, to distinguish between good and evil aka discernment is essential to our survival as believers.  We need to wrestle with God until we come to the valley of decision.  If God is God then serve him!!  Job, Jacob, Elijah, Moses, Esther and many others walked this path. Ask God for discernment in order to know what is going on around you.  Only with spiritual eyes can you see beyond the natural.  Discernment leads to Discipleship where we sit at the feet of the Master and learn his ways.  Finally, God can change our situations at a point-in time and at other times it is a process.  God’s ways are not ours as He is more concerned about our spiritual development.  So often when things don’t change in the physical God is behind the scenes doing the work so that the manifestations will be revealed much later.

Therefore let us not be content to drink milk like babies but eat the solid food of God (yam, banana, dumplings, and sweet potatoes) as we press towards the mark of the high calling: Perfection God’s way 101.

PRAYER

Daddy we are imperfect yet You love us so much that you died and rose again to show us how to die to self and how to live.  Help us to trust You in every situation and season of our lives knowing when we obey You and surrender to You we are transformed.  Forgive us when we go our own way.  Fill us with your Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen