To The One Who Thinks They Have To Be Perfect To Be Loved
"Perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18
The pursuit of perfection is an ideology as old as time, no doubt born from the enemy and his lies. Until we know the truth, we all fall for the lie in one area or another.
In biblical times, we see the perversion of God's word by the pharisees. They were so concerned with following the Law, that they missed the heart of the Law--the purpose of the Law. Therefore, they did not know how to apply it with grace.
Their ego was stroked by their own ability to follow the Law perfectly (even though they were not) and their authority to condemn those who broke the Law.
The Law of the Lord--our first understanding of perfection--was created with two purposes.
To guide a people toward righteousness, civility, honor, and prosperity.
To reveal our human imperfection and our need for a Savior.
The Law was never meant to condemn, but to reveal.
When Jesus came, He freed us from the curse of the Law or rather the curse of the pursuit of perfection.
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:13-14
And yet, feeling the need to be perfect persists. It persists in singleness and dating, in the workplace, and even in the church.
The enemy still wants us to believe we're not good enough to receive love--the love of others and the love of God.
As a woman, I've struggled to believe anyone would love me, choose me, unless I was perfect. But perfect is a moving goal post, an ever-changing criteria. And when you're in a race with no true finish line, the pursuit never ends until your body says "no more." Growing up in the church, I felt the same way. Teachings led me to believe that I would never be good enough for God, so why even try? This ideology is still turning people away from God before they even know Him, just as it did me.
But the truth is, we weren't created to be good enough, perfect, or even righteous on our own. We were created to have relationship with the Lord, and it's through that relationship that He works in us to make us holy. Holy, not because we're perfect and we never sin, but because of our adoption into His kingdom--into His family.
When Satan makes us believe we're not good enough to even seek a relationship--whether it's with the Lord or with someone else--we miss out on the love we were created to receive and to give.
Love is the foundation of the world, of our faith, of our salvation, of our existence.
Love inspired God to create the world and all who inhabit it.
Love inspired God to save the world.
The Love of God is what the Law and Jesus came to reveal.
Love is what God offers each day, regardless of our failures the night before.
You don't have to be perfect to receive what you were created to receive.
When we understand the love of God, we are freed from the curse Jesus abolished centuries ago. We no longer chase validation, even when insecurities arise. We bring our insecurities and negative thoughts to the Lord and He reminds us of the truth. He reminds us of our worth and our purpose. And when we fail in our faith walk, we do not hide from the Lord in shame like Adam and Eve. We remember that "Perfect love drives out fear." 1 John 4:18
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
God is not waiting to say, "I told you so." He is not waiting with a belt to punish or even a harsh word. His word says, He is not easily angered and He keeps no record of wrongs. He rejoices with the truth. He wants you to bring everything to Him. Yes, even your failures. His arms are open to give you a comforting hug and it is that love that inspires us to walk in obedience once again.
God's love is perfect and therefore, we have nothing to fear in seeking His love even when we are not perfect.
The world preaches perfection. Even some misguided churches preach performance-based salvation, like the pharisees. But Jesus preaches surrender, grace, redemption, freedom, and love.
Jesus is the one that breaks every curse, including the curse of the pursuit of perfection.
So, if you're struggling with the need to be perfect, with feeling unworthy of love, with feeling unworthy of even seeking the Lord, call on Him. He will answer, because this relationship never required you to be perfect. It only requires you to seek Him.
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