(Photo by Jess Sanchez)

Measured by Perfection? Part 2
A Spoonful of God’s Grace Makes Perfection Go Down

By Selma Komisky

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

– Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

Grace is simply a gift from God that is divine favor (kindness). We don’t deserve grace but God lavishes us with it just because of His great love. It’s something I myself am personally still learning and trying to fully grasp.

Grace makes the perfection go down because when we know God loves us even when were not perfect, we cannot be filled with guilt or fear. Its so liberating to know God doesn’t base His love on our performance! All we have to do is know in our hearts Jesus is for us and loves us and we can obey and trust Him.

To help us walk in God’s grace, here are some Biblical truths to help to set us free from the stronghold (anything other than Jesus Christ mastering the Christian’s life) of perfectionism:

Learn From Our Mistakes

• Reflect and take things in stride

“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.”

(Proverbs 24:16, RSV)

You’re Forgiven

• You are cleansed by Jesus and made new (just as if you never sinned).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

(1 John 1:9 NKJV)

Keep Moving Forward

• Persevere and look to Jesus daily

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead .I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)

Know That God Loves You And He’ll Never Stop

• Embrace this truth deep inside – God loves you regardless of what you do. You don’t have to be performing for Jesus.“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.”

(Jeremiah 3:31 NIV)

Surrender

• Give everything to Jesus“Cast all your anxiety on Christ for He cares for you.”

“Cast all your anxiety on Christ for He cares for you.”

(1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Accept God’s Grace

• Realize that grace cannot be earned – Christ has done it all!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

In conclusion, we must know that, we can’t be Mary Poppins but if we trust Jesus, God will begin to transform us from the inside out through His power! Our value isn’t based on how we see ourselves or how others see us, but on how God sees us! We are created by Him (the Perfect One). “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32, NKJV).

Grace is always the solution.