A Thought

“My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word.  My eyes fail from searching Your word, saying, ‘When will You comfort me?’  For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, yet I do not forget Your statutes.”  Psalm 119:81-83

It is hard not to be dismayed in an honest reading of Scripture and an earnest search of the soul because the biblical standards we are called to seem impossible to live up to.  Yet this is what the faithful is called to, and I think this is the dilemma the psalmist finds himself in.

Yet we are reminded by Jesus that the “perfection” we are called to strive for (Matthew 5:48) is very likely the same “perfection” we will never attain for ourselves because we cannot honestly compare ourselves to the holy perfection of the Father.  This does not mean we are not compelled to try because the effort itself is a measure of holiness, an honest reflection of the spiritual reality of where we once were vs. where we strive to be; who we once were vs. who we intend to become.

We must not make the mistake of thinking we are no longer obligated to observe the Lord’s statutes and commandments simply because Jesus was murdered because there is nothing attributed to Jesus (you know, the Word made Flesh) that suggests such a thing.  If anything, our commitment to perfection is sealed by His blood – AND – it is the only true witness we have.  Indeed people will not believe what we say, but they are much more likely to believe what we do.

Blessings,

Michael