Our Stella was the star in the Christmas program at their church. There hasn’t been such a perfect star in history as far as we grandparents are concerned! She was delightful, adorable and the star outfit fit her perfectly. She walked in right on cue, carried herself onto the stage and stood with the entire cast and sang her little heart out. How is it that perfection can walk around as a little girl? Could it be because we love her? We absolutely do and so as far as we are concerned, she’s perfect. The same is true for all our grandchildren – as we watch them perform, play, participate in sports, or just be kids, we delight in the fact that Danny and I have the perfect grandchildren. We tend to overlook the human flaws and concentrate on seeing them through the eyes of love.
It’s a given that we work so hard for perfection during this season. The perfect gift, the perfect decorations, the perfect menu, the perfectly clean house, even for ourselves we want to be perfect in all we do. It can be pretty disappointing when perfection is never reached. And we aim our disappointment at ourselves – if we had tried harder, done more, we’d have made it.
Oh beloved, God wants you to know this morning that the perfection you are seeking is found in Christ. And the applause your heart desires is found in the Love of God! His love sees you as perfect. The covering of the blood of Christ over all your imperfections sets the stage for your wildest dreams to be fulfilled. Whether you are performing or just resting in Him, He rejoices over you! You may have your mishaps, misdirections or mistakes, but the Love of God covers a multitude of your sins. He wants you to know you can deal with your imperfections because you are covered by His perfect love. That love casts out all fear – fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of inadequacy. The Lord is asking you today to come away with Him and rest in His promises. Rest in who He is for you. Rest in the realization that you are faultless in His eyes because He loves you. Rest in the fact that you may not get it all done perfectly, but you stand in perfect position to have all the love of God and His blessings flow over you and through you, not just at this holiday season, but all through the year. He’s releasing you from your own need for perfection in yourself and in the lives of others. He’s releasing you from the rat race of doing more to feel adequate. He’s calling you into the perfect position of a child of God. Let Him into your heart and give Him the opportunity to love you like no one else can. He will release all the tension and give you a brand new focus – to see the season for what it is – a perfect time to showcase the love of God and share it with everyone else! Rehearse the truth about you – you are enough – because you are chosen, redeemed, precious, beautiful, and loved – oh so loved!
God loves you and He’s for you! Forgive everyone everything, including yourself! Rejoice in love with your Savior and celebrate the joy you find in Him alone – as you live in the Light of His Glory and Grace!
“For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity].” Hebrews 10: 14
“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Hebrews 10: 10
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 1 John 4: 18
