“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
How often do we seek to be “perfect” or give up on doing something because we are not “perfect?” I couldn’t even count on my hands those things I’ve longed to do but perfection stood in my way. I wasn’t good enough, smart enough or looked the part enough. Perfection is not only overrated it’s simply not godly.
Our Father God knows we will never achieve perfection on this earth. Our fleshly, sinful nature, despite our efforts, will rise to the surface because “No one is righteous – no one is good except our God” (Psalm 14:3). But we can’t give our state of imperfection license to live contrary to His will.
Paul challenged young Timothy to offer God his best not perfection. And that sweet friends, is what God desires from us. He knows our frailty and imperfections – He’s not interested in our pursuit of perfection but rather our pursuit of Him. When we pursue Him, we will give our best to Him and we will walk in obedience to His commands. Perfect no, but genuinely desiring to offer Him our very best and that’s how we receive God’s stamp of approval. He looks inwardly at the heart not at the perfection level ( I Samuel 16:7). God is the One who doesn’t condemn our attempts but rather lovingly encourages us and helps us to get back up and stay on track.
Our enemy well that’s another story….Satan’s game is condemnation. He loves to slam us when we fail and echoes words of defeat and shame in the midst of our sinfulness. Satan’s strategy is to keep us down, discouraged and forever pursuing the elusiveness of perfection. If Satan can keep us chasing what we can’t attain then he’s got us zeroed in on self and not the power and might of our God.
So if perfection is our pitfall, let’s choose to leave that game and instead pursue offering God our very best. We can walk blamelessly and pursue holiness without getting distracted by the trap of perfection or becoming a casualty of our own imperfections.
“Father, help us to release the pursuit of perfection and instead pursue You with our whole heart, soul and mind.”
For His Glory
Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life
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