1ST WEEK OF LENT

Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Have you ever heard a performance by a renowned classical pianist? They likely studied and practiced for many years before they started performing in public. It’s amazing to listen to someone like that. They seldom—if ever—make a mistake. They’re a prime example of the saying “Practice makes perfect.”

When we look at the spiritual life, we may believe that being “perfect” means being like that pianist: making no mistakes. But Jesus shows us a very different way of thinking about it. When he tells his hearers to be perfect, he means be perfected in love, just as our Father loves perfectly. That means loving everyone, even those we consider enemies, even those who hurt us.

That’s not easy to do! We all know people who rub us the wrong way. We all know how painful it can be when someone hurts us or betrays us. So how can we love them in these difficult situations?

We can start by remembering that our heavenly Father loved us even when we were his enemies (Romans 5:10). That makes him the best one to teach us how to love. We are all sinners, and God loves us all. In fact, you might be the person that someone else finds difficult. Recognizing that can help you show compassion even when you don’t feel like it.

Especially when it’s hard, you have to put in the effort—like that classical pianist. Practice until loving becomes easier and the way you love looks more like the way God loves. Here’s a way to begin. If someone offends you, pray for them. Then try to seek the good for them. If you have to deal with that person, ask the Spirit to give you his strength and his love.

The more you wrestle with loving those you find difficult to love, the more you show your heavenly Father’s perfection in your life. You’ll get better at loving everyone because practice does make perfect!

“Lord, help me to love not just when it’s easy, but even when it’s hard!”

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Matthew 5:43-48