Perfected

Finally, brothers, goodbye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)

Aim for perfection – what a challenge Paul gave the church in Corinth! How can anyone ever achieve perfection in this life? First, let’s define what Paul means by the word ‘perfection.” Young’s literal translation reads, ‘Be made perfect.’

To ‘be made’ brings to mind a piece of clay that is being formed and shaped by the potter’s hand. Only when the clay is soft, pliable, and wieldy is the potter able to create a vessel worthy of His name. To ‘be made perfect’ involves an attitude of submission to the One who is shaping us into Christ’s image, a yearning to be molded and shaped by God’s hand.

Paul calls us to more than just a willing heart. He urges believers to actively seek God’s correction and discipline. Like an athlete training for the Olympics, we ought to continually ask God to point out areas of our lives that need improvement—not to minimize our progress or make us feel like failures, but to hone our character.

In Christ, we are being perfected day by day.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Amen.