Day 4 – Christian Perfection: Perfect in Love
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
When Jesus tells his followers to “be perfect,” many of us immediately feel discouraged. Perfect? We know ourselves too well. We lose our patience. We say things we regret. We become selfish. We get distracted. We make mistakes. John Wesley did not teach that Christians eventually become incapable of error. When Methodists speak about Christian perfection, we are talking primarily about the perfection of love. Wesley believed God's sanctifying grace can so transform our hearts that love for God and love for neighbor increasingly become the governing desires of our lives.
Mother Teresa offers a memorable picture of that kind of love. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, now Kolkata, India. Her ministry became known worldwide for serving people who were poor, sick, abandoned, or dying. Her work was not glamorous. Day after day, she and the sisters serving alongside her encountered people whom society often ignored. Mother Teresa frequently emphasized doing small things with great love.
That closely aligns with Wesley's understanding of Christian perfection. Christian perfection is not performing spectacular acts so that everyone notices our holiness. It is loving more deeply. It is becoming more patient with the difficult person. It is forgiving when resentment would be easier. It is noticing the lonely person others overlook. It is serving without needing recognition. It is becoming increasingly generous with our time, attention, resources, and compassion.
However, we cannot accomplish this transformation through willpower alone. This is the work of God’s sanctifying grace. God's grace does not stop working after we first believe. The Holy Spirit continues to shape, correct, stretch, and transform us throughout our lives. Imagine the sculptor I discussed in my recent sermon on Christian Perfection, slowly shaping a piece of stone. Stroke after stroke, something beautiful begins to emerge. Grace is continually shaping us into the likeness of Christ. That process also matters for us as a congregation.
At St. Andrew UMC, excellence in ministry matters. Biblical faithfulness matters. Outreach matters. Hospitality matters. Growth matters. But all of these things must ultimately flow from love. We do not serve simply because the church needs volunteers. We serve because Christ is teaching us to love. We do not welcome people because hospitality is a program. We welcome because God's love is transforming our hearts. Christian perfection is not about becoming impressive. It is about becoming more loving, and grace is still working on us.
Next Step: Choose one deliberately loving action today that no one else needs to know about. Encourage someone, forgive someone, help someone, call someone who is lonely, or quietly meet a need. Do one small thing with great love.
