Twin Peaks

The scripture for today is Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

God commands nothing of us that He is not willing to do through us. We are commanded to be "perfect" or "complete." That is obviously not something that we can accomplish ourselves. Perfection in the eyes of God is the consistent reflection of His love. The love of God is not something that we manufacture; it comes from Him alone. Regardless of the circumstances or trials of life, God desires for us to perfectly reflect who He is; "God is love." 1 John 4:8 Only when a life is fully surrendered to Christ can the love of God be fully expressed through it. That is the state of perfection that God holds for each one of us. It is commanded, not suggested, that we surrender our lives completely so that the perfection of our Father's love can be shared with the world.

When the Father and the Son take up residence in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, they bring with them their perfect character (John 14:23). That character is written in the hearts and minds of those who open their hearts to the love of God. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." Hebrews 8:10 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." Hebrews 10:16 The New Covenant is the same Covenant of Love that has identified who God is throughout the ages. It has been ratified by the sacrifice of Christ. It is the very expression of the character of God and is written in the heart of every true believer. The heart that has been surrendered to God becomes the property of the Lord and, out of what belongs to Him, God expresses Himself in His perfect love. We are to be perfect or complete because now, through the indwelling presence of Christ, we can be.

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim