Perfection

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  Romans 12:12

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The scripture speaks much of the perfect.  The King James Version of the Bible renders the word perfect in twenty-five different Strong's Concordance entries; and, it is used one hundred and twenty-three times in the text.  This is quite an array of nuance of meaning.  In Romans 12:12 the word perfect is translated from the Greek word teleios (Strong's Concordance number 5046).  It's meaning is: "brought to it's end; finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, full grown, adult, of full age, mature" (http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5046&t=KJV).  This word is an adjective and it describes a work in progress.  A person growing into maturity.  We are being perfected into the will of God by the renewing of our minds and the rejection of worldly standards.  In this place of transformation God recreates us into His image by the inflow of Himself through His Word.  It is not His will that we mix Him with worldliness; which in effect, produces and idol.  It is His will that we unhinge ourselves from the world's set of social rules and follow His.  We need not strive to be perfect in the sense that we are complete in ourselves.  Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (KJV).  As Christians, each one of us is a sinner saved by grace, being perfected by God.  This is the place of the cross, if we ever allow ourselves to forget that fact, it is an opportunity for the enemy to cause us to judge others.  We are all on a journey, we began in different places and God is moving us toward Himself.  God's grace is the forward moving vehicle that keeps us continuing on the journey. 

Lord, in Jesus' name I pray that you keep us in Your perfect will.  I pray that You continue to perfect us and transform us into Your image.  Thank You for Your grace.  Thank You for the opportunity to live with You eternally.  Thank You for Your Son and His sacrifice that has bought us the opportunity to be Your children.  I love You and praise You.

Patti