Perfection

Last night, Reagan and I held our breath as we watched one of our Texas Rangers come ever-so-close to perfection.  Yu Darvish pitched 8 2/3 innings of absolute perfection- 26 batters had come to the plate and all had been sent back to the bench without reaching first base.  Then, came the 27th batter.  One more out and Darvish would land in the history books reaching the "Holy Grail" of baseball.... the perfect game.  With one crack of the bat, the baseball bounced along right between his legs and he had to watch the ball, a perfect game, and a no-hitter all bounce into the outfield.  Gone.... just like that.

Perfection is hard to achieve in sports, but even more so in life.  Let's be honest- it is impossible to achieve.  We are sinful creatures- only one came to Earth who was perfect and left without sinning.  Jesus was the perfect lamb who died for our sins.  The rest of us.... well, we fall short! 

Yet, through a heart-changing relationship with our Savior, we can catch glimpses of His perfection within ourselves.  Rare moments when, in His strength, knowledge and love, we are able to do things beyond ourselves.  Have you been there?  Maybe it is speaking and sharing the gospel with someone you just met or held the hand of a desperately hurting friend.  Perhaps you stood up for righteousness or continued to honor the Father in the midst of deep personal agony.... the list could go on.  God enables us to see brief moments of perfection in our lives to know that He is real and active in our imperfect existence.

Recently, I came up to Caleb and saw by the look on his face that something was wrong- very wrong.  He was upset and through a short conversation I found out that a friend had pressured Caleb to do something that he wasn't suppose to do.  Caleb began to walk away and heard the friend call him a "chicken" for not caving in to the pressure.  It hurt his feelings, but he still walked away.  Perfection.... just a glimpse, but God was at work.  Caleb desperately longs to fit in and please his peers.   For him to have the strength to do what was right- when he wanted to please his friend- was a moment of God's enabling. 

Last night I had to carry out a punishment for Carson.  I finished the discipline and asked him if that would change his response next time, and he honestly answered, "No."  I asked again- thinking maybe he just didn't understand, "Do you think you need another discipline to remember not to do it again?"  "Yes," he responded.  Now, this was spoken in humble honesty- just raw and sincere truth.  Perfection.... just a glimpse, but only God can deliver that kind of response.

I read this quote today.... "Let us never suppose that obedience is impossible or that holiness is meant only for a select few.  Our Shepherd leads us in the paths of righteousness- not for our name's sake but for His."  Elisabeth Elliot

When we see these rare glimpses of perfection, it is never for us- but for the glory of the Savior, our enabler.  It is to draw others to His saving grace.  It is for revealing Himself more intimately to us and stir a deeper longing for our home that awaits.  It is our God-designed purpose lived out.

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!" (Ephesians 3:20, 21 MSG)

Lord, thank you for the brief glimpses of Your perfection in our lives!  May those moments give us hope, grow our faith, and stamp Your reflection in our daily existence.  We know that it is for Your glory, and for that of Your Son- our Messiah- help us to live out Your purpose for us.  Work in us Father!   We long to see those perfectly designed moments lived out in our lives and know- desperately so- that it was You.

Blessings....