Progress - Vs - Perfection

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:14-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You Do Not Need To Be Perfect For Progress

If you are waiting to be perfect you can stop. Perfection only dwells in Jesus. This is why he was chosen by Our Heavenly Father, and made the sacrifice for mankind. We could not have endured the pain, persecution, or priceless sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. The temptation, torture, and pain that great, was never meant for us to endure. God the Father laid the foundation from the very beginning. The life designed for us would be used for another purpose. God made us in his image, but not perfect.

Have you ever taken the fall for a family member or friend. Example, have you ever been in a situation where a younger sibling did something wrong? He deserved to be punished for his wrong deed. However, you knew he could not endure the punishment or spanking from your parents. You knew their strength was not enough to withstand the stripes. Therefore, you took the blame. Likewise, Jesus saw that we are worthy. He stepped up for us. He knew we were not built to take the stripes coming forth from the enemy.

Jesus not only blocked the physical stripes from us, he blocked the spiritual, mental and emotional stripes from the enemy as well. You see, Satan can only touch us mentally, emotionally , and spiritually if we allow him to. He was defeated and bound by Christ. He has no authority or God’s permission to inflict physical harm on us. He can not take anything from us as well.

Satan’s warfare is all mental. Only you and I have the power to allow Satan to destroy us through our flesh and mind. If we succumb to him in our mind, then he can take over our flesh. We are stronger than him. He knows this, therefore, he plays games in attempt to to control us through our flesh. This is why it is important never to fear or be anxious for anything. Allow God to have total control of the temple he created in us.

While we were given life and promises of abundant living, God never promised life would be easy. This is why he said cast our burdens on him for his yoke is easy.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”” ‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus also, stated he was leaving but, never will we be alone because, he would send the Holy Spirit who will act as our comforter. We will never be perfect wrapped in this clay called flesh. It is impossible! If it was meant for us to be perfect we would not need Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only way to see God the Father and eternal life.  Nothing can be done on our own behalf. We cannot write our own names in the book of eternal life.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” ‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

The one thing we have control over is PROGRESS.

God is pleased when our hearts are pure and we posses a desire to please him, to live for, and through him. He is pleased when we show gratefulness. He is please when we are thankful. He is pleased when we love our brothers and sisters as we love him. God is pleased when we walk in obedience and peace. All of these are actions steps toward making progress in the Lord. How do we get here?

We must repent of all sins and leave those things of yesterday behind in order to progress to tomorrow.

We make the decision to die to ourselves  and rise in Christ. This is not an easy task. However, our desire to move forth will make us positively strive for greater. We will never master God or out think him. His plans is and always will be greater and more  beneficial for us. There is progress even in new beginnings. Trust your process and watch your progress. Victory is on the other side of pain and delays.

Have peace in all that you have NOW. Embrace your RIGHT NOW spirit. Slow down your thoughts not just day to day but, moment to moment. There is peace in a RIGHT NOW spirit.

Thank you Jesus for growth in you.

Worthy he deemed us!

Love,

Marti L. Coates