Embracing the Journey: Willingness Over Perfection
Devotional
Day 1: Willingness Over Perfection
God values our willingness to obey Him more than our ability to achieve perfection. This is exemplified by the widow who gave her two cents, which was small in amount but immense in percentage, reflecting her wholehearted devotion. Our sincere efforts are what matter most to God, as He sees our hearts and accepts us based on our readiness to follow Him. This principle is comforting, especially when we struggle with challenges like forgiveness. God knows our intentions and provides the strength we need through the Holy Spirit. [02:02]
"For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have." (2 Corinthians 8:12, ESV)
Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you offer your willingness to God in that area today, trusting that He values your sincere effort?
Day 2: Aim for Perfection
While we may not achieve perfection in this life, we are called to aim for it. This means striving to be like Christ in every aspect of our lives, knowing that God will complete the work He has started in us. Just as we encourage our children to aim for 100% in their exams, we should aim for spiritual perfection, trusting that God sees our sincere efforts and desires. This journey is not about achieving perfection on our own but about continually moving forward, trusting in God's grace. [10:05]
"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (Philippians 3:12, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can strive to be more like Christ. What practical steps can you take today to move towards that goal?
Day 3: Love Your Enemies
Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is a hallmark of being a child of God. This reflects the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father, who provides for both the righteous and the unrighteous. As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect this love in our actions, words, and attitudes, even towards those who may not treat us well. This is a challenging call, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and witness to the world. [21:13]
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone who has wronged you or whom you consider an enemy. How can you begin to show them love and pray for them today?
Day 4: Seek God's Help
In areas where we lack, whether it's love, wisdom, or strength, we can confidently ask God for help. He is a generous Father who provides abundantly for His children, just as we provide for our own. This journey of faith is a continuous process of growth and discovery, where we learn to see our shortcomings and rely on God's grace to overcome them. By seeking God's help, we acknowledge our dependence on Him and open ourselves to His transformative power. [27:33]
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." (James 1:5, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel you lack something essential. How can you ask God for His help and provision in that area today?
Day 5: Continuous Growth
The Christian journey is one of continuous growth and discovery. As we walk with God, He reveals areas in our lives that need change, helping us become more Christlike. This journey is the most rewarding adventure we can embark on, as it leads us to a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His will for our lives. Embrace this journey with joy, knowing that God is with us every step of the way, guiding and transforming us. [40:10]
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey so far. What is one area where you have seen growth, and what is one area where you feel God is calling you to grow further?
Sermon Summary
In our journey through Matthew Chapter 5, we are reminded of the high standards set before us as followers of Christ. However, it's crucial to understand that God does not demand perfection from us immediately. Instead, He looks at our willingness and desire to obey Him. Just as the churches in Macedonia gave generously despite their poverty, God values our readiness to give and obey according to our ability. The widow who gave her two cents is a powerful example of this principle. Her offering was small in amount but immense in percentage, reflecting her wholehearted devotion.
This principle of willingness applies not only to giving but also to our obedience to God's word. We are called to aim for perfection, much like we encourage our children to aim for 100% in their exams. Yet, God accepts us based on our sincere efforts and desires, not our shortcomings. This is a comforting truth, especially when we struggle with forgiveness or other challenges. God sees our hearts and knows our intentions, and He provides the strength we need through the Holy Spirit.
Our ultimate hope is to be like Christ when He returns. Until then, we must press on, striving to be more like Him in our actions, words, thoughts, attitudes, and motives. This journey is not about achieving perfection on our own but about continually moving forward, trusting that God will complete the work He has begun in us. As we press on, we must also learn to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, reflecting the love of our Heavenly Father.
In practical terms, this means seeking God's help in areas where we lack, whether it's love, wisdom, or strength. Just as we provide for our children's needs, God is eager to supply what we lack when we ask Him. This journey of faith is a continuous process of growth and discovery, where we learn to see our shortcomings and rely on God's grace to overcome them. Let us embrace this journey with joy, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
Key Takeaways
1. Willingness Over Perfection: God values our willingness to obey Him more than our ability to achieve perfection. Like the widow who gave her all, our sincere efforts are what matter most to God. He sees our hearts and accepts us based on our readiness to follow Him. [02:02]
2. Aim for Perfection: While we may not achieve perfection in this life, we are called to aim for it. This means striving to be like Christ in every aspect of our lives, knowing that God will complete the work He has started in us. [10:05]
3. Love Your Enemies: Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us is a hallmark of being a child of God. This reflects the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father, who provides for both the righteous and the unrighteous. [21:13]
4. Seek God's Help: In areas where we lack, whether it's love, wisdom, or strength, we can confidently ask God for help. He is a generous Father who provides abundantly for His children, just as we provide for our own. [27:33]
5. Continuous Growth: The Christian journey is one of continuous growth and discovery. As we walk with God, He reveals areas in our lives that need change, helping us become more Christlike. This journey is the most rewarding adventure we can embark on. [40:10] ** [40:10]
What example does the sermon give of someone who gave generously despite their poverty, and how does this relate to the principle of willingness over perfection? [00:37]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the widow's offering of two cents, and how does it reflect her devotion? [02:02]
How does the sermon describe the Christian journey towards perfection, and what analogy is used to illustrate this process? [12:11]
What does the sermon say about the importance of loving our enemies, and how is this connected to being a child of God? [21:13]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the principle of "willingness over perfection" challenge common perceptions of what it means to be a faithful Christian? [02:02]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that aiming for perfection in our Christian life is similar to encouraging children to aim for 100% in their exams? [06:01]
How does the sermon explain the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers overcome their shortcomings and grow in their faith? [03:40]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between loving our enemies and reflecting the character of our Heavenly Father? [21:13]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you felt inadequate in your spiritual journey. How can the principle of "willingness over perfection" provide comfort and encouragement in such moments? [02:02]
Identify an area in your life where you struggle to aim for perfection. What steps can you take to press on towards improvement, trusting that God will complete the work He has begun in you? [10:05]
Think of someone you consider an "enemy" or someone who has wronged you. How can you begin to pray for them and show them love, as encouraged by the sermon? [21:13]
In what areas of your life do you feel a lack of love, wisdom, or strength? How can you actively seek God's help to fill these gaps, as suggested in the sermon? [27:33]
The sermon mentions the continuous growth and discovery in the Christian journey. What is one specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to grow, and how can you respond to this call? [40:10]
How can you apply the lesson of the widow's offering in your own life, particularly in terms of giving and obedience? What does it mean for you to give "according to your ability"? [02:02]
Consider the analogy of climbing a hill used in the sermon. What is one "hill" in your spiritual life that you are currently climbing, and how can you persevere in this journey? [12:11]
Sermon Clips
If the Readiness is present that means, if the willingness is there, if a person is willing, then God accepts you according to what you have and not what you don't have. So if a widow has only got two cents and she gives that two cents, it is like a millionaire giving his entire million dollars into the offering box because he gave everything. [00:02:00]
If the willingness is there, that means verse 12, if you're ready to obey God in your heart, then you are accepted according to what you're able to do and not what you're not able to do. Isn't that a great comfort? Please remember this verse always. [00:03:00]
We preach 100%, but if the willingness is there, that means verse 12, if you're ready to obey God in your heart, then you are accepted according to what you're able to do and not what you're not able to do. Isn't that a great comfort? Please remember this verse always. [00:03:00]
I say always aim for 100%. Don't aim for pass marks. In India, pass marks is 40%. I said, please don't aim for 40%. Aim for 100%. And then if you get 70, praise God. I'm happy. But don't aim for 70. Aim for 100%. Isn't that what we teach our children? [00:06:00]
To be like Christ means absolute perfection, not a single bad thought, word, deed, attitude, motive, nothing. See, there are five areas in which we sin. We sin in our actions, we sin in our words, we sin in our thoughts, that's all that people to think of. [00:08:40]
We press towards the mark, and when God sees our desire is that, he accepts according to what we have. That's what we read in 2 Corinthians 8. If the desire is there, then it is accepted according to what you have, and each of us have got a different level of ability. [00:09:42]
I want to press on to Perfection. I want to press on to get 100% in every subject. Verse 17, join in following my example, he says, because most people, he says in verse 18, are not walking like that. Most Christians are not walking like that, even in Paul's time. [00:16:12]
If you are eager to draw people to Christ, God will give you an opportunity also. But if you're not eager to draw people to Christ, then of course God won't give you. You know, God gives you according to your burden. I had a great burden as a young man when I was 23 years old. [00:33:36]
I had that burden for years and years and years in my heart. I saw it only 10 years later. 10 years later, I saw a church finally coming up in my house where people love one another. But it was like I carried in my heart for 10 years, just like a mother carries a baby in the womb for 9 months. [00:34:24]
If you walk more and more, we will see them, but you can see them only as you overcome more and more in your life. The more you overcome sin, God will allow you to see other things in your life which you have not seen till today. Do you believe that there are sins in your life which you don't even see? [00:36:31]
I learned that day to expect thanks from somebody is a sin. I stopped expecting thanks from that day. Did you know that expecting thanks from somebody is a sin? You probably never knew that till today. I'm giving you one example like that, things that you don't know that sin your life are there in your life. [00:39:34]
The best tourism is to follow Jesus. You'll discover so many areas in your life which you did not know were wrong, un-Christlike, and you'll discover areas where you can become more Christlike. It's a wonderful journey. I've been traveling this journey for a long time, and I've discovered amazing sites. [00:40:10]