Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12
It
is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can
do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The
emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of
holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness,
your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the
evidence of God in your life. How can we say, “It could never be God’s will for
me to be sick”? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10),
why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is
not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and
your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection.
Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant
aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing
that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next
thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly
consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is
unnecessary— that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain
God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am
called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a
yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts
about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s
purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting
me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost
for His Highest” December 2)