A Thought for You from David Cooper

Progression Not Perfection

The Christian life is not perfection - it's progression. We go from strength unto strength, glory unto glory and faith unto faith. God does his work in us in his own time and at our own pace. We are the ones who put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. 

There are three kinds of Christians: Those who think they are perfect. They are self-deceived. Then there are those who know they're not perfect but always focus on their imperfections so they live discouraged. Finally, there are those who know they aren't perfect but know they don't have to be because they are in Christ and Christ is their perfection. They are free to develop their full potential in Christ as God works in them to conform them to the image of Christ.

The salvation of a person is the miracle of a moment, but the making of a disciple takes a lifetime. We should set goals and aim for a holy life. But we will fail and fall short. "We all stumble in many ways"(Jas 3:1). When we do we need to get up, dust ourselves off and keep pressing on toward the goal of Christlikeness. Sometimes we take three steps forward and two steps back. But at least we are one step further in our spiritual growth.

Someone said to me through tear-filled eyes, "I feel like the chief of sinners." "So do I," I replied. "That's why we need grace." Grace takes our eyes off of ourselves and puts them on Jesus. "We are complete in Him" (Col 2:10). If you constantly look at your failures,

you will live in discouragement. If you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will discover the secret of perpetual joy. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Heb 12:2).

The goal for this year is not perfection but it is certainly progression - so let's move forward in every aspect of our lives in 2011.

P.S. This Sunday I am starting a new 2-part series entitled: It's Time for a Change.  See you on Sunday!