TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

DEVOTIONAL

by Stephanie Reloj

“He/She can do it! Sya pa ba?” It is flattering for people to see and trust you as if you’re the most capable person in the world. However, what others tend to forget is that we are only human beings. We will lack something one way or another. Even if someone is brilliant, kind, or independent, there will be days when one is the opposite—nobody is perfect.

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus issues a seemingly impossible command: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” At first glance, this directive may leave us feeling disheartened and inadequate. How can we, flawed and imperfect beings, ever hope to attain the perfection of God?

Yet, Jesus’ command serves to dispel any notion that we can merit salvation through our own efforts. If perfection is the standard for obedience, then none of us can meet it on our own. Our righteousness falls short, and our good works are insufficient to earn our way into God’s presence.

The good news is that our perfection does not depend on our own works or righteousness. Instead, it is found in Jesus Christ alone. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf. When we place our faith in Him, His righteousness is imputed to us, and we are declared perfect in God’s sight.

Our striving for perfection is not about earning salvation but about living in response to the grace and love we have received through Christ. As we abide in Him, His Spirit works within us to conform us more and more to His image, enabling us to reflect his perfection in our lives.

 

PRAYER