Should I? Letting Go of Expectations Because God is Perfect

I’m not perfect (hold for surprised gasp). It’s true, I’m not. But I spend a lot of time working to live up to other’s standards for me.

In today’s post (part of our #letgoandknow series) we’re going to look at God’s perfection. Because He is perfect, we can let go of those expectations.

What is perfect?

This God—his way is perfect (Psalm 18:30).

To be perfect is to be without flaw. Blameless. Complete. Whole. Entirely in accord with the truth. God’s character is the standard by which all things are measured.

He is perfectly good. (Numbers 20:12)
Perfectly just (Deuteronomy 32:4).
Perfectly truthful. (John 17:17)
Perfectly faithful. (1 Corinth 1:9).

When I measure my life and character against the world, I get very confusing results. By some standards, I am doing great! Living a good life. By others, I am seriously lacking. The standards are inconsistent, exhausting, and ultimately a lie. By the world’s standards, it is impossible to find lasting peace, genuine joy, and true love.

In God’s perfection, we find a standard that is consistent and worth pursuing.

In God's perfection, we find a standard that is consistent and worth pursuing #letgoandknowClick To Tweet

Impossible Standards

But aren’t God’s standards a little…impossible? Jesus taught his disciples “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) He shows them how it is not enough to simply keep the external commandments of the law. Perfection is in the direction of our hearts.

The prophet Amos put it like this, “behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.” (7:7)

“A plumb line is a weight, usually with a pointed tip at the bottom for marking a point. The weight is suspended from a string; gravity pulls the weight down and pulls the string tight. It is used by builders as a vertical reference point – to make sure what they are building is straight….A plumb line does not deviate, it does not provide excuses, it does not just tell you what you want to hear, it does not change. It is unerringly straight and right.” (from Bible.org)

I want to be perfect, but when God is my plumbline, I see myself as I am – crooked, flawed, hopelessly imperfect.

Washed in Perfection

Thankfully that is not the end of the story.

“His eyes are full of love as gently He shows us where we are crooked and need to be made straight.” (Stanley Voke, Personal Revival)

God’s plumbline shows us our iniquity (that which deviates from the plumb) and brings us to repentance, the place where we are redeemed.

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)

I am not perfect, but because Jesus is, I can let go of the expectations, the burdens of trying to be good enough, and rest in His Perfection.