Love Perfectly
January 6, 2025
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 (NIV)
Ready to be free from the emotional pain others have caused you?
In Matthew chapter five, Jesus explains how to respond to your enemies, those that have caused you hurt. He says that tolerating them is not enough. Jesus calls you to something much higher: you can become a person who loves and blesses those who hate you.
Today’s verse says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, NIV) What does this mean? The word used for “perfect” is teleios and does not mean “without fault.” It is a word that relates to time more than behavior. “Perfect” in Jesus’ sentence here, means that something is complete in all its parts; it has reached maturity.
According to Jesus, being “perfect” is not about performance or appearance. Being “perfect” is about growing up. And the way that Jesus is calling you to grow up is to display a mature kind of love: “Perfect” love cares for and blesses your enemies.
Perfect love is when you care for those who hate you and do good to those who use you. When you pray for those who persecute you, you are perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. And that is exactly how He has loved you.
How can you love like this? None of us can perfectly obey God all the time. But through the power of His Spirit, you can mature and grow up in the way you love others. As you do, you will bless your enemies and please God.
Perhaps you can think of an enemy now. Maybe it's the boss at work who mistreats you, someone who spreads lies about you, or a family member who has belittled you. Maybe it is someone who just simply opposes you because you're a follower of Jesus.
Jesus invites you to grow up in His love. And you don’t have to try to love these people on your own. He will help you. By the power of the One who died for all of our enemies–including each one of us–you can mature in His perfect love. The harm from others will begin to fade in the infinite power of His perfect love.
Can you imagine offering your enemies the same unbiased, unyielding love that God has offered you? You can show up in a person’s darkest moment. You can light the way with the perfect love of God.
And you don’t do this alone. The perfect love of your Heavenly Father is with you all the way.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your perfect love. Thank You for embracing me when I was ignorant, arrogant and disinterested in Your. You loved me then. And You continue to love me now. Help me be a vessel of Your perfect love to those who mistreat me. Help me mature and love like You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.