I don’t think that I would consider myself a perfectionist. There are too many things that get left undone sometimes for me to consider myself a perfectionist. My brothers, on the other hand, may consider me a perfectionist. There have been numerous times, back in the day, when each of them, at one time or another, has stood behind me as I was doing something for them on the computer. It would get to a certain point and they would say, “That’s fine. You don’t have to do anything else. That’s all I need.“ I would just keep sitting there working and making it as perfect as I could make it. Maybe I was just aiming at perfection.
When I was working, especially at my last job where detail was so important, I was really bad to just “do it” because it was easier to do it than to try and explain my crazy reasoning to someone else and have them try and figure out how to do it. Somehow, I would always take the long way around. My thought processes were slow and deliberate. I had to see the complete and full picture of why something was working the way that it was before I could understand it. So maybe I was just playing around at aiming for perfection.
In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul was imploring the church at Philippi to aim for perfection, the best they could.
As an example, he was telling them that he knew he was not yet the person that he was aiming to be someday and he was surely not perfect. But he belonged to Christ Jesus and he wanted to try and do the best for Him that he possibly could.
He shared with them that he had not gotten to the place he wanted to be yet, but one thing he did was to try and leave behind the things of the past and make every effort to move toward what lay ahead in his future.
Paul looked toward a specific end and outcome as he considered his very important calling from God in Christ Jesus.
He then urged them to do their very best to be perfect, and to work together and attempt to be likeminded. He assured them that even if they fell short that God would make up the difference and reveal to them the things they needed to know.
Finally, Paul assured them that no matter where they were on their spiritual journey and what level of maturity they had achieved, they were to always strive to live up to their level, utilizing what they had learned, reaching higher as they would go.
What is the challenge this passage presents for those that are following Christ? Perfection is a challenge for every human that we will not reach until we make it home. Our earthly challenge could be to take the knowledge that God has given us and use it to grow in our spiritual walk with Christ and also to help others grow in Christ.
How can we apply this passage to our lives? We could attempt to follow Paul’s example and live the life Christ would have us live, always learning and moving forward toward perfection and not concentrating on past mistakes.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened as God’s Word reminds me to not look back and dwell on my past mistakes. God has forgiven me and He has laid open a path for me to follow with directions and with Help to make it home to Him and the perfection that does await there.
Lord, I pray that You would help me see Your path and reach for Your goals. Give me wisdom and strength to face each day as it comes and not look backward to grieve or look forward to fret. Help me live in the here and now, doing all I can to show You to others. Please rain Your perfect Spirit down on this world that needs You so badly and help us reach toward the perfection that You have for us.
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“12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Philippians 3:12-16 (KJV)
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV)
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV)
“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,” Hebrews 12:23 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 