Well done!

Then The Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation (Genesis 7:1).“

Being perfect means having no flaws—complete, excellent and well-rounded. No one is entirely perfect. We only know of what we can see about others. We would like to be on our best form, even though we know we make mistakes. God is Who He is because He is Perfect: Holy, Wise, Just, Loving, Powerful, and much more. He never makes mistakes. We are not God, but we are made in His Likeness, when we abide in His Son. We will never be perfect in our human form, but when we are hidden in Christ, we have His Attributes. He is blameless, spotless, upright and Holy. We are imperfect friends, siblings, loved ones and Christians. God understands our propensities, and that is why He offered His Son to die in our place, putting to death the deeds of our flesh. He rose from the dead to live in us. We are made one with Christ in His death and resurrection, so that the Life of Christ becomes ours. 

“God makes complete those who do His Will”

20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His Will; working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13).

Every good work is done according to God’s Will. Anything done outside of God’s Will doesn’t pass muster. God makes complete those who do His Will. By doing God’s Will we do the good work that changes us within; it is a willing transformation. Good work will transform our character and yield eternal dividends. Whatever we do for His Glory will be pleasing and acceptable before The Perfect One. The work we do must create a positive change in us that conforms us to His Will. We have an audience of One, Who works in us what is pleasing in His Sight. When we allow The Lord Jesus to do good works through us, we become complete in Him. We become useful children of God who love God and others just as He does. The Only One who did God’s Will throughout His Life on Earth, The Son of God, becomes One with us. God, Himself, transforms us to be perfect in Him. Good work is a willing obedience to please God, by doing what is good in Christ. 

“To be like Christ is letting Him express Himself through us.”

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in Heaven is Perfect (Matthew 5).

Those who are perfect are like their Father in Heaven. They are not perfect by attaining earthly achievements. God shows Kindness and Goodness to everyone. We all enjoy His creation with equal access to it. Those who hate God are still able to enjoy the scenic wonders of nature as much as those who love Him. We are to be just as generous with kindness even with those who get under our skin. Loving those we hate, praying for those who are bent on our downfall, and greeting those who despise us; these are considered good works that make for godly perfection. It is a command to be perfect in these areas, just as God our Father is Perfect towards those who are evil. We are not to be like tax collectors of that time; worldly and self-centered. To be like Christ is letting Him express Himself through us. It is living by The Spirit of Christ that makes us like Him, by not acting on our whim. Perfection is not our outward appearance. Perfection is an internal resemblance to Christ.

13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless; children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain (Philipians 2).

We can’t complain when we are doing something willingly. There are also fewer disputes when everyone is willingly doing what they are supposed to do. What would keep a Christian from complaining, while doing the right thing? Remembering that it is God Himself who works in us to be willing doers, to bring Him pleasure. God initiates our willingness to do what pleases Him. It will be difficult to complain when we are keenly aware that our willingness is God’s own doing. Blameless children of God willingly obey; they are considered faultless in a world full of rebellious people. As light shining in darkness, we remain subservient to God. When we complain, we are disputing God’s Will for us. Blameless children of God don’t find fault with what God is prodding them to do. 

“Be blameless in your generation by fearing God and refraining from evil.”

7 And The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered The Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 8 Then The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the Earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? (Job 1)”

God suggested Job to Satan, as an upright man who shuns evil because he fears God. Satan roams the earth looking for those he can trip up. Job was an upright man, who became Satan’s target. Have you considered that the attacks and adversities you face might be to test you? Is it possible that just like Job, God has allowed Satan to rattle your cage? God had so much confidence in Job to suggest him to Satan as one who would not be disloyal to Him. Maybe you have not received a breakthrough for an insurmountable trial. Hold fast to your faith. What if God deems you upright? and has chosen you as an example of those who shun evil in your generation? Satan will try to test you. God will only allow Satan to go so far. Fear God and continue to steer clear of evil, even if it costs everything you have.  Be blameless in your generation by fearing God and refraining from evil.

“We have an audience of One, Who works in us what is pleasing in His Sight.”

28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in The Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God (Romans 2).

Character expresses who we are inwardly. We often show our true colors when we are faced with difficult circumstances. Hardship and temptations expose the truth about what we are made of. A Christian is not just one outwardly, but is the product of the internal work of The Holy Spirit. The heart is the reservoir for attributes and attitudes. We can’t try to win the approval of the world, at the expense of our obedience to God. If we, like Job, have the praise of God, we have become who we ought to be. 

2  How long, O you sons of men, will you turn My Glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah 3  But know that The Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly. The Lord will hear when I call to Him. 4  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in The Lord (Psalm 4).

God desires that we are in His Likeness, as we have been given the right to be called His sons and daughters. He has called and set us apart for His Glory, Praise and Honor. When we live in sin, we turn His Glory to shame. Think of how disappointed parents get when children are disobedient. God has preserved for Himself those who are willing to submit to Him. He has separated them from the rest, so He may reveal Himself to them, in His Love, Goodness, Mercy, Grace and Power. He hears when they call to Him. 

We are also commanded to keep our emotions in check, so that they don’t lead us to sin. If we trust in God, we can depend on Him to respond on our behalf, and obviate our need to act out of anger. A sacrifice of righteousness is acceptable and perfect before God. He doesn’t need our material things; He requires first we honor and glorify Him with our thoughts, emotions, words and actions. 

“Perfection is an internal resemblance to Christ.” 

Made in the Likeness of God, with The Spirit of His Son living through us, we are made complete. If we fear and obey God, we will shun evil and be acceptable before Him, in our generation. God has set apart for Himself those who love Him and submit to Him. He is near them in all their affairs, and they will not be put to shame. We are called to do good works which are in keeping with God’s Will for us. We will always be transformed by the works we do in Christ Jesus. We will learn to love our enemies, pray for our adversaries and be kind to everyone regardless of how they treat us. Our Father in Heaven is perfect in all these, and we are commanded to be the same. We are not made perfect to impress others, but that we may manifest the perfection of The Lord Jesus, Who lives in us.

9 The fear of The Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of The Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10  More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. 12  Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13  Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19).