colossians 4.6 (niv) says, let your conversation be always full of grace.
what paul is saying is, “don't demand perfection of others.” when you realize that you have been the recipient of grace, you need to be gracious to everybody else. don't demand perfection of your spouse. don't demand perfection of your children. don't demand perfection of other church members. don't demand perfection of business associates.
the fact is, we're all in the same boat. we're all in need of forgiveness. we need it desperately and GOD offers it to us. allow yourself and other people to make mistakes.
people will say, “what about matthew 5.48 (niv)? JESUS said, be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly FATHER is perfect.” now, you always interpret a verse by two things: the words, the root words, the meaning of those words – in this case the word perfect, and the context – what is it saying in light of the whole chapter?
the context of the passage: it says, be perfect, therefore... always find out what the therefore is there for. JESUS is saying, “in light of everything I've just said, be perfect. right before it, HE's talking about loving unlovely people. HE's saying that love is the essence of perfection. paul repeated it in colossians 3.14 (nkj). he said, love is the bond of perfection.
when i love GOD, love others, love myself, i am being perfect. i'm fulfilling the purpose for which i was made.
that's why JESUS said, the whole bible can be summed up in two statements. love GOD with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. if you do those two things, you've got it! paul said, love is the bond of perfection. put on love. he's not saying, “make up a bunch of rules and restrictions about external behavior, do's and don'ts: don't drink, cuss, smoke or chew, run around with girls that do. don't do nothing!” he's not saying that! he's saying be perfect in love. we are to share GOD's grace by loving HIM and loving others.
just a thought from the front porch…
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