Perfect

December 21–James

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:2-4).

“No one is perfect.” Familiar wisdom. If perfection means the absence of moral failure, the claim is indisputably true.

In Scripture, however, “perfect” is more functional than moral. The word is teleios. It is a form of the same word Jesus cried on the cross. “Finished!” Describes something that has become or accomplished what was originally intended.

This kind of perfection is attainable for every person! Restored in Christ, we become able to do the good works for which He made us. See Ephesians 2:10. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”(2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Never let the enemy rob of this confidence! Perfection in the sense of successful life, a life of God’s approval, is a very real possibility!

The price, says the Spirit, is patience. Endurance. The path of Christ is not fast or convenient. Like the Magi of the Christmas story (Matthew 2), we are given light and called by it to a long and faithful search for Christ and the privilege of pledging allegiance to Him. Like the Magi, we are to search. Finding Him, we are to kneel and worship.

Is it possible to be perfect? If you mean mature and useful, the answer is yes! Begin! Repent of your discouragement and your impatience! Keep walking! Let endurance have its perfect result! The journey is your gift.

It is what wise men do.

“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We would like to skip the intermediate stages. . .and yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability, and that it may take a very long time” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin).