Perfection. A dangerous word that fills many people with doubt and anxiety.
Webster’s defines perfection in the following way: “an unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence”. Webster’s 1828 dictionary lists the following definition: “an inherent or essential attribute of supreme or infinite excellence”. Excellence-a word found in both definitions, spanning the test of time.
We practice for perfection in many different ways. The most obvious way is in sports or hobbies where you want to reach the highest achievement. We quickly learn as humans that perfection is not possible. That doesn’t keep us from practicing to get closer to achieving perfection. A fair amount of time and money are spent trying to achieve perfection in whatever interest is in our current view. Would it be better to switch our mindset to the word excellence instead? Excellence implies that we are the best we can be in our focused area but seems to remove the pressure of being perfect.
What if the next project we practice for perfection in is our relationship with God? It does take time but not necessarily a lot of money. Our relationship with God will not be perfect, but it can be excellent.
“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”
2 Peter 1:5-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.5-6.NLT
Responding to God’s promises is the beginning of seeking excellence in our relationship with Him. The verse goes on to give a list of things that will keep us moving toward that excellent relationship, things we can practice each day. You can survive with a less than excellent relationship with God. We can thrive if we practice for perfection and move closer to an excellent relationship with God!
Nae's Notes 