WHAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT GOD: DOES GOD EXPECT PERFECTION?

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” – Matthew 5:48.

“Nobody’s perfect.”

While the fact that nobody’s perfect is an oft-used statement, people are constantly seeking perfection. Too often, we measure our success against unrealistic standards and expect others to do the same. But who could live up to the ideal of perfection?  Yet there is that troubling Bible verse: “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Most people probably read those words and scratch their heads. How can we be perfect as God is when we can’t even reach perfection on a human level?

Fortunately, there are some critical differences in perfection between the world and God. Worldly perfection is mainly focused on our ability to conform to a set of standards that drive our self-worth.  In this model, our worth stems from what we do and how well we do it. God doesn’t define perfection in the same way we do. He knows that we are human. He knows we are frail. He knows we are on a journey, in progress, not yet reaching the final goal, and He loves us just as we are.

Yes, God does command us to be perfect. But He doesn’t expect us to be perfect in the sense that we never sin.  1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” He knows we sin and remedied that through the priesthood of Jesus: “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous”     

No matter how hard we try, we sin constantly and are far from perfect. We sin more than we probably realize. We commit sins of commission—doing that which we shouldn’t, and sins of omission—not doing that which we should. God sees and knows our shortcomings. That is why, in daily life, we need His grace and His unconditional love. Jesus’ righteousness is credited to us, so when God looks at us, He sees us as perfect.

God loves completely. Perfectly. Jesus taught us to love everyone, regardless of faith, nationality, or personality. Will we ever achieve loving perfectly like our heavenly Father loves? Not in this life. But this is our goal, and we are to pursue it wholeheartedly. Perfect love is a standard impossible for us to attain by our efforts. But what is impossible for man becomes possible for those who give their lives to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts. “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

When I accept my imperfection, understand my inability, and receive God’s grace, I can love others in a way that is characteristic of our heavenly Father.

And that is what He expects from each of us.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?
  2. How can you be better at loving others this week?

HOW DO WE ELIMINATE THE “H” WORD

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela in his book Long Walk to Freedom.

I’m sure you’ve noticed it’s pretty difficult, if not impossible, to like everyone. Some people are so irritating, and you feel uneasy or annoyed in their presence. You have negative feelings toward them, and you’ve got to be careful lest it intensifies into something stronger.  If we are not careful, it can morph into anger and hatred over time.

The word hate occurs approximately 83 times in the Old Testament and 17 times in the New Testament. The New Testament challenges the idea that one person is allowed to hate another. In Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus says: “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

As Christians, we will never match up with the highest ideals of love, but we must realize that hatred is poison. Hatred doesn’t right a wrong, open a dialogue, stop a war, mend a relationship, or enrich us physically, mentally, emotionally, or physically. Hatred saps abilities, talents, energies, and life.

Love, on the other hand, builds lives. It makes people better. It can edify the one expressing the love and the one being loved. Love corrects, while hatred finds fault. Love listens, while hatred only wants to be heard. Love desires repentance; hatred desires retribution. Love is much better.

Nelson Mandela was often asked how he felt about the 27 years of imprisonment. You would think he was bitter, resentful, or even angry. But he wasn’t.  He said, “Bitterness only hurts oneself. If you hate, you will give them your heart and mind. Don’t give those two things away.”  Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”

So what happens when you feel hatred towards another human being? It does happen. We live in a world where people come and go and experience vastly different things in all avenues of life. If you hate someone, ask yourself, why? Then, turn your disappointments, offenses, frustrations, hurts, and the anger they cause over to God. Determine that you will do whatever is necessary to ensure that anger doesn’t control you. Forgive people. Accept disappointments and delays patiently, trusting God’s plan and timing.

“Goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you deal with hatred? What is the typical outcome of your hatred?
  2. Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”  What does that verse mean to you?

WHAT IS YOUR POWER SOURCE?

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”- Isaiah 40:28-31.

Where is your source of power? God is the perfect and on-time source for everything you need or want. The only catch is you have to receive Him as your one and only source by faith. The word of God will renew your mind and feed your faith.  If you allow Him, God can do more than we ask or think, and His power is working within us daily. The scriptures make the case that we need to be entirely dependent on Him.

Romans 11:36 says, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory…”  Exodus 15:2 says, “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory…” Psalm 28:7 adds “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.”… 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (AMP): Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”

God is our power source.  If God closes a door in your life, He can open another door. And if another door closes, He can open a window, and you can crawl through it. God is not limited to your ability and capacity.  Bank accounts rise and fall. Economies go up and down. Stock markets can go bull or bear. It doesn’t matter. By coming to Jesus daily, you draw from the source of all resources. He is the love you need, the joy that will motivate and renew you, and the strength that will carry you through the day, no matter how much supply you require.

“Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them.” – Hudson Taylor

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you for God to be your source and supply? 

FAITH IN GOD’S PROMISES

  “Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.“ – Joshua 21:45.

Few things are more comforting than knowing and believing that God is at work in our lives. That comfort is not a result of anything we do but in a God whose promises never fail.  Joshua 21:45 clarifies: “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua tells us that not even one of God’s promises was left unfulfilled…not even one.   

The question is whether we underestimate and take for granted the remarkable gift of God’s promises. God’s promises are not empty words, nor are they distant or detached. They are personal and transformative and give us hope and become an anchor in the storms of life. In times of uncertainty, we can cling to the promises of His presence and His guiding hand. In moments of doubt, we can find reassurance in the promises of His unconditional love and unending grace. And the good news is  the promises of God are not for select people but are accessible to all believers. D. L. Moody said, “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge” (2 Peter 1:4-5).

It is not enough to possess knowledge of His promises; we must have unwavering trust in them and allow them to guide our every step. In the Bible, we encounter men and women who demonstrated faith in claiming God’s promises. One example is the story of Abraham. Despite his old age, he believed in God’s promise of descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). Abraham’s faith moved him to action, and he became known as the father of many nations. Similarly, we are called to trust in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father and step out in faith and trust His promises.   

 The Bible’s promises have always been and always will be trustworthy. We can count on them. Don’t allow the times when you are discouraged or experiencing setbacks in your life make you give up on God’s promises for you.  Even if you do not see what God is doing, He is active behind the scenes. He is there, and He will fulfill His promises.

Discussion Questions:

  1. We can trust God, no matter how impossible the situation, because God always keeps His promises. Agree or disagree and why? 
  2. If you completely accepted God’s promises, how would that change how you look at fear?  

WHAT IS UNSHAKEABLE FAITH?

“This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.” – Hebrews 12:27

Is our faith prepared to stand whatever comes our way? Because troubles will come. They will come as the normal stresses of daily life to something that can shake the very foundation of our faith. But an unshakeable faith will keep us standing firm whatever life throws at us.

We can learn a lot about unshakeable faith from the Apostle Peter. It is easy to identify with Peter because his life, like ours, is something of a rollercoaster ride. For instance, in Matthew 16:16, in response to Jesus’ poignant and ageless question, “But who do you say I am?” Peter boldly and accurately responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus affirms this answer and gives Peter the keys to the kingdom. Peter is on the mountaintop.  However, a few verses later, Jesus says to Peter: ““Satan, get away from me! ” Off the mountaintop.  But this is not an isolated incident.

Peter witnesses the transfiguration and naively suggests they build tents to stay awhile (Mark 9:5-6 (ESV). Peter proudly declares that he will never desert Jesus, but a short time later, after following Jesus at a distance, Peter vehemently denies ever knowing Him. In Peter, we see ups and downs: brilliance, then ignorance. He’s believing yet fearful, faithful but broken. Peter’s journey of faith is a microcosm for all of us.

God allows us to watch Peter’s faith grow as we read the Gospels, the book of Acts, and Peter’s two letters. Over time, Peter’s faith transformed from shaky to unshakeable.

Faith is being sure of things we hope for spiritually but haven’t experienced or seen with our own eyes yet. It is trusting in Jesus Christ- who He is and what He accomplished on the cross. Faith is believing His promises to us are true.

As modern-day ambassadors for Christ, we must ask God for an unshakable faith to step forward into whatever our unique callings require each day.  When we face troubles, we must remind ourselves that we belong to Jesus. God is bigger than any trial or problem life may throw at you. Nothing touches your life that He doesn’t know about. He can use whatever trial He allows into your life to strengthen your faith and shape your character. He has the power and authority to remove it or use it and walk with you through it.

We cannot grow our faith. That is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. However, we can position ourselves to cooperate with His activity. Growing in faith is a lifelong journey in our Christian life.

Discussion Questions:

  1. If I’m genuinely going to walk by faith, it will involve some risk. Agree or disagree?
  2. How willing are you to fail in life? What do you dislike most about failing? How willing are you to fail in an attempt to honor God?  

WHAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT GOD: OUR PERCEPTION OF GOD

 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” – James 1:2-3.

The Christian life is the sum of how we perceive God.  If we perceive God incorrectly, then our faith will be incorrect. God wants to take our perception of Him from His Word, not in our circumstances. Our perception of God can be distorted by the way others have treated us, the wickedness of this world, or the enemy. We have all met people who won’t believe in God or Jesus because the world is such a mess or their lives are in turmoil. They want to blame God for the conditions in the world and the drama and problems in their lives. Their concept/perception of God is wrong. People see God as difficult if not impossible to please—cold, hard, and angry, ready to judge every failure is wrong as well. Too often, people are striving to earn His approval and hoping God won’t cast them aside.

Our Heavenly Father is a God of love, salvation, mercy, patience, and health, but you won’t learn that by looking at what is happening in the world. You need to look at His word to have the correct perception of our Heavenly Father.

That is why the local church is so vital to our lives. The local church is where we learn to perceive God correctly.  God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in the church.  Without a local church, we can develop wrong perceptions of God.  Without knowing Him correctly, we cannot enjoy all that He is.  Hebrews 2:12 from the Amplified Bible says, “…I (Jesus) I will declare Your (the Father’s) name to My brethren (believers), In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” Jesus says He will disclose the Name of God in the midst of the church.

It is a valuable exercise to look inward at how we perceive and what we believe about God. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom and look at all of who God says He is in Scripture. In scripture, you will find that He is compassionate and faithful (Lamentations 3:22–23), loving (1 John 4), holy (Leviticus 11:44), merciful and faithful (Psalms 86:15), and that He rules over everything (Psalms 103:19)?

Every time you open God’s Word, ask Him to reveal who He is.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you need to deconstruct or construct your concept of God/ Or either?    

PERSEVERANCE IS A SPIRITUAL TOOL

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4 (NIV).

In every life, there will be moments when you have to endure. In every Christian journey there will also be times you have to endure, but with a fundamental difference: the Christian endures with hope, purpose, and victory. God calls his followers to persevere, to walk forward in faith, trusting God even when trials and sufferings come.  Fortunately, perseverance is a godly muscle that we can flex and strengthen.

The Bible is full of stories of men and women who persevered. The apostle Paul often wrote about perseverance. If anyone demonstrated endurance, it was Paul. He urged believers not to tire of following Christ, even when persecuted. He’d been beaten, stoned, whipped, driven out of town, shipwrecked, reviled, and abandoned. Despite having a thousand reasons to put perseverance on hold, he continued to trust and obey God. Then there is the story of Jacob. In Genesis 32, we read a story about Jacob wrestling with an angel; He would not let the angel go until the angel blessed him. He received that blessing through perseverance. Perseverance is a spiritual tool that can be obtained and strengthened.

You have to fail to persevere. Everybody fails. It may be your fault it may not be your fault. You are not a superhero. We all make mistakes, we all have down times, we all fail sometimes. Persevering people decide to keep moving on. Paul said, “…I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:14).

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” It says to be strong and immovable, always working enthusiastically for the Lord because nothing you do for Him will be in vain.  In everything we face, God is with us. We are called to persevere, but God causes us to persevere.  We are not strong enough in our own right to deal with all that life throws at us.  Jesus is.  The key to moving forward is to remember who is in charge. The only way to move forward is to put the Lord in charge and to keep Him there.

Perseverance is not a one-time event; it must become a lifestyle. It is something you will need to do continually if you are determined to succeed. Those who persevere will succeed because they refuse to give up. Our Christian life is a race to the finish line; we are not aimlessly running around as if we have no destination. In any race, the one who persists, who never gives up in the face of difficulties, will always triumph.

Discussion Questions:

  1. In what areas of your life do you need more perseverance?
  2. What can you do this week to improve in those areas? 

THE STORY OF DEBORAH

“Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.” – Judges 4:4-5.  

Even if you’ve never studied the Bible, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the story of Mary of Nazareth, who’s best known for giving birth to Jesus. However, there are plenty of other women in the Bible, from faithful servants to influential leaders. One of them is Deborah.

We learn in scripture that Deborah is a godly, inspirational woman who listens to God and responds with obedience to His word. She is courageous and willing to step out in faith to contend with the enemies of God. Deborah understands the power of collaboration and the need to work together to see God’s plans and purposes fulfilled. But she is also confident in her calling and her God-given gifts and talent. She does not waste any time in giving God all the glory for the victory and success that He brings.

The story of Deborah in Judges 4 and 5 begins like many of the stories in the Book of Judges—the Israelites sinned against the Lord, and He sold them out to King Jabin of Canaan. This lasted for 20 years until the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. At that time, Deborah was leading Israel as a judge. She sent for Barak, a commander in Israel’s army, and told him to go and fight Jabin’s army led by Sisera. Barak said he would only go if Deborah went with him. Deborah agreed but told Barak the honor would not go to him because the Lord would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman. When Barak’s army advances, the Lord routs Sisera’s army, and Sisera flees on foot. The Israelites fought against King Jabin until they destroyed him. Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise, and Israel had peace for 40 years.

Judges 5:7 (NIV) says, “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Notice the verse says no one in Israel would fight until Deborah “arose.” The Israelites were beaten down by 20 years of slavery. They were too tired and discouraged to fight. They needed someone to inspire them, and the Lord chose Deborah. If she had not been obedient to act on what the Lord told her to do, nothing would have changed. But she didn’t do anything. We need this kind of faith. The kind of faith that lets us trust in God’s plan, wisdom, and timing. Deborah is a wonderful example of what it’s like to trust God with our whole heart and not on our understanding.

The Lord will do the same with us. As we go deeper in our relationship with God, God will guide us to clarity around our call for this season of kingdom work. God can use many ways to confirm it to us over and over. As Christ followers, we embark on an exciting journey of serving the Lord.

So often, we are afraid to step out of our comfort zones and become everything the Lord has called us to be. Deborah in the Bible doesn’t question God’s voice or wonder what others will say or think; she simply has the faith to do what God tells her. Whether people follow or not is not her concern. Her only concern is doing what the Lord has called her to and not letting anything get in the way.

Discussion Questions

  1. Have you ever been thrust into service or responsibility in an unexpected way or at an unexpected time? How did you respond?
  2. Have you ever felt the need to know God was with you in a particular season or situation? What did you do?
  3. The summary description in Judges 4:23-24 reminds us that God has been at work. How have you seen God at work in your life?

THE HEART OF A SERVANT

  “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.  They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.  They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.  And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” –   Acts 2:44-47.

What does it mean to be a servant? What kind of things do you need to do to earn that title?  When thinking about servants, the mind usually goes straight to Biblical times when servants did a little of everything: planting crops, looking after the sheep, preparing and serving meals, and washing feet, to name a few. It was hard, dirty work any way you looked at it. But of course, servants weren’t just around in Biblical times. A servant can be anyone. All it takes is serving. Doing something for others, whether you’re actions are reciprocated or not.

The best example of serving is Jesus. There’s never been a greater Servant than the one who gave everything for us. If anyone could claim that dirty, hard, and draining tasks were below Him, He could. And yet, during His life on earth, He was the greatest example of serving others there ever has been or will be. He expects us to follow His example: “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

Fortunately, there are models of people with a servant’s heart all around us. We can learn from watching them go about the business of serving others.  No matter what it costs them, they will be there for you. If you need a meal, they’ll make it. If you need to talk, they’ll listen. And if you need your house painted, your kids watched, or your dog walked, call them up, and they’ll be there. They often anticipate that you need help and show up before you ask them.  The world needs more people like that. More people – more servants – following the ultimate example that Jesus set.

Our heart should be a servant’s heart. Not just so that we can be seen as servants but so that people can see Jesus in us. Jesus specialized in serving people and tasks everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath Him because He came to serve

The more we serve,  the more we will want to serve. The more we see how our actions and time bless others, the more we want to give them. The closer we draw to people who are hurting and seeking help, the more we discover that it doesn’t matter if there’s recognition or praise afterward. The serving is the reward.

Ultimately, it is all worth it because you know that helping and caring for others – will bring greater blessings to everyone involved than if you didn’t serve.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Pray and ask God for the heart of a servant.
  2. What actions could you take this week to have the heart of a servant?

THINK LIKE A SERVANT

I need to remember that God owns everything. Anything I have has been placed in my trust by God, and I am responsible to be a good steward of it. It is impossible for me to serve both God and possessions. Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.” – Tim Challies.

A Fortune 500 company rolled out a quality and marketing campaign called Think Like A Customer. The program was an attempt for employees to get into the customer’s mindset. The customer has unfulfilled needs, and the business needs to think like a customer to capture those opportunities. The idea is to give customers a great experience, and they’ll buy more, be more loyal, and share their experience with friends. It is what the company strives for. One of the prerequisites for being a servant of God is to think like a servant.  Learning to think of others first is one of the true marks of a Christian because it is so contrary to human nature.

At times, people can be difficult, and our first instinct is to not deal with them, let alone serve them. The people in your life can be difficult or hurtful, and often the first instinct of our flesh is to run or fight. It is never to serve.

Look at what Paul said of Timothy: “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares for your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21).

Hidden in these verses is the secret to thinking like a servant. It starts and ends with Jesus. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you begin a relationship; over time, you focus on Him and worship Him as you learn more and more about Him. As you grow in Him, you naturally learn what matters to Him. And most importantly, you realize that what matters to Him matters to you.   

No matter how often you read the passage of scripture where Jesus washes the disciple’s feet, you have to be in awe.  At that time, the undesirable task of washing a guest’s feet belonged to the lowest servant.  People of Jesus’s day wore sandals and walked upon unpaved roads caked with human refuse and animal waste.  Their feet were horrendous.  Jesus took on the mantle of the lowest servant when He removed His robe and demonstrated how to think and be a servant.

If that doesn’t amaze you, remember that Jesus knew who would betray Him.  He knew His best friends would abandon Him.  He knew Judas would sell Him to authorities for just a few pieces of silver.  Would we still think like servants, or would we look for retribution? Yet, Jesus’ response was tender service.  He poured out love to His wayward friends in both His words and His actions.  He asks us to do the same: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13).

Thinking like a servant doesn’t automatically make you one, but it goes a long way toward getting you there. If you are thinking like a servant, you are noticing others, and the more you are aware of others, the more the Holy Spirit can use you in reaching out to them. All this increases the opportunity to serve.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to think like a servant?
  2. How can we think like a servant this week?