"As for God, His ways are perfect..." Psalm 18:30

'God's perfect ways' has come to mind often this week and with it came Jesus' admonition in Matthew 5:48, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

I thought we might look at what Scripture says of our call to perfection.
In my New King James Study Bible perfection is defined as the extreme degree of excellence; pure; complete; mature. With this in mind let us first Look at:
God, the means of our perfection:
"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." 1 Peter 5:10

Christ, the means of our perfection:
"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

The Holy Spirit, the means of our perfection:
The Apostle Paul to the Galatians in 3:3, "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"

The word, the means of our perfection:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The ministry, the means of our perfection:
Paul giving the Ephesians the purposes of the gifts, "For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:12-13

Perfection and spiritual graces:
Patience:
"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:4

Love:
"But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."
Colossians 3:14

Praise:
"But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were indignant and said to Him, 'Do You hear what these are saying?' And Jesus said to them, 'Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" Matthew
21:15-16

Unity:
In Jesus high priestly prayer,
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17:23

Strength:
The Lord's response to Paul's thorn in the flesh, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'" 2 Corinthians 12:9

Good works:
"Now may the God of peace...make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ..." Hebrews 13:20-21

Our perfection is a work in progress:
A subjective process:
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1

Experience not yet reached (like Paul, this should be our attitude):
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of  me." Philippians 3:12

In closing I repeat the goal God has in mind, Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Thank you Father for Your work in each of us that we may be perfectly fitted for our place in Your kingdom! Amen