Written by Liliana Henriquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Bogota, Colombia.
When you first heard this verse, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48 NIV), what did you think? Did you associate it with "always behaving well"? I don't remember exactly what I thought, but I probably would have had the same thought. That's a pretty simplistic view of what Jesus really meant.
Today, after several years following Jesus, I realize that holiness is not a destination that we arrive at and remain, but a path that we travel day by day. From experience, I am convinced that holiness is a process of transformation whose goal is to make us ever more like Christ: in His actions, in His way of thinking, of treating others, and of living in obedience to the Father's will. In other words, God perfects us little by little, from glory to glory.
What does this imply?
It implies that we have a lot of work ahead of us. The version of us when we started this race cannot be the same as the one that ends it. We should come to the encounter with Christ as transformed women.
What can we do?
- Recognize that following Christ has a cost.
Jesus was clear: following Him means giving one's whole life to Him (Lk 14:25-33). We no longer command ourselves; we have voluntarily decided to let ourselves be guided by Him.
- Obey with submission and love.
If we already recognize that the Father's will is our priority, then we must surrender to Him with trust and love.
- Cultivate an intimate relationship with God.
We are soldiers in an army commanded by God. To fulfill our purpose, we need to hear His instructions and be in tune with Him through prayer, the Word, and constant fellowship.
It is easier said than done.
However, as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” If we want to be women of faith and holiness, we must practice, practice, practice... until our character is strengthened and it becomes more natural for us to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in any of its nine "tastes": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
It's not going to go perfectly on the first try. But if we continue to strive with the help of the Spirit, we will be holy as He is holy.
I encourage you to keep moving forward, you're doing well!
