Daily Devotional

PERFECTION IS IN THE LORD NOT IN HUMAN EFFORT

March 18

hild of the King, did you ever fail at anything that was very important to you? Do you understand that failing in the life of the believer is a very important element? It is! If you succeeded at everything that you did, you would begin to believe that you had reached some strange stage of perfection. Of course, the Son of God says, "be ye perfect as my Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:48) This perfection is a "perfection in him," and not in the flesh. If you were perfect and unfailing in any way, you would not know the meaning of surrender, or submission, because you would think that "all is well with me, I will work on somebody else now." You need your Father to complete and build in you the loving, caring, forgiving, blessing nature of the Lord Jesus. All that He has with which to work is a lump of clay--- you! At the most difficult, failing and painfully hurting times of your life, you have a natural tendency to look up and cry out for help. This is healthy for you. Your father says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee!" (Jeremiah 33:3) So strive for perfection in your love and obedience, but always remember that this perfection is a work of God done in you, and not at all by you. In your failing, and suffering, you can show compassion toward others when they fail and suffer. In your "weakness my (God's) strength is made perfect." (II Corinthians 12:9) Since this is true, let me ask you a question, "Is your weakness and sense of your need of your Father in that weakness a good thing?" Answer, yes and no! Yes, it is in the sense that you call upon him, and get a clear picture of your humanity versus His divinity. The answer is "no" when you lose this sharp distinction of His greatness and your need of Him at the center of your life and work for the Lord. When the line becomes dim, and you begin to think that you are "special" and "superior" to others in the work, then you stand in danger of exercising pride. The specific danger here is that this "pride" will blind you more and more as it is exercised, leaving you clueless as to why the Father does not lift you up to powerful ministry or allow you to enter abundant grace and blessings. So, child of God, "Humble thyself under the mighty hand of God."(I Peter 5:6) Determine to be a full blessing to others always, and the Holy Spirit will enter your life with the outpourings of new joy, peace and fruitfulness that will shock and astound you to endless measures!

Prayer

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Father, it is truly "all about you!" It is not all about me! Help me to release myself to your precious Holy Spirit for you to do a deep, mind and heart changing work that will enable me to stand upon the highest places possible for me to bear good fruit for you and for the Kingdom. Indeed Father, I will "seek your kingdom and your righteousness," and all the things that I need will be "added unto me by you!" (Matthew 6:33) I bow my head and submit to your holy authority through Jesus Christ my Lord, amen!