Midweek Encouragement - "A Perfect Life”

“A Perfect Life”

             ^{“And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.}

^{Hebrews 5:9 NIV}

         ^{I finally did it. I painted it. Let me back up a couple of months. When my daughter and son-in-law planned to remodel their kitchen, Pamela asked what they were going to do with their old island. We recently replaced our pressure-treated wooden deck with composite and Pamela thought Megan’s old island would be a useful addition. But before we could let it set out in the weather, I told Pamela that it needed to be water-proofed. So we bought some clear oil-based marine varnish to paint the island. But then we went on vacation to Family Bible Camp at Camp YoliJwa for a week (see www.campyolijwa.org). After we returned home, the busyness of life filled my schedule and soon Pamela and I went on vacation to Bethany Beach. And the island continued to sit on our carport, covered with a plastic tarp. After being home from the beach for nearly a week, I finally varnished the island . . . but it just didn’t look perfect. So I spray painted it with white Rustoleum outdoor paint and finally finished it. I think it’s finally ready to use. It’s not perfect, but it’s finished.}

         ^{Another young couple, Tyler and Rebecca, had big plans, too. Together they bought a farm on which to raise their children. Becky homeschools the kids, tends the garden, and milks the goats. Tyler counsels troubled kids at an inner-city school and spends Saturdays remodeling their turn-of-the-century farmhouse.}

         ^{The one hitch in their plan is Tyler’s perfectionism. He won’t install so much as a cove molding unless he can lay it exactly right. Obviously, progress has been painfully slow. Becky says, “I told him that completion is a form of perfection, and he just needs to get it done!”}

         ^{She’s right about that. Perfect often does mean complete. And that’s the sense of the word as it’s used in the book of Hebrews. Jesus, though God, experienced all that we do. Yet Jesus had to suffer and die. With that, He entered fully into our experience. And because Jesus did that, we can enter fully into His. He suffered to become like us. In our suffering, we become like Him.}

         ^{In our journey to Christlikeness, we cannot bypass pain and suffering. And like the apostle Paul, we shouldn’t want to, because through occasional suffering we can experience Jesus’ life. So, if you’re looking for the perfect life, follow Jesus everywhere. Your life may not be perfect . . . as in ideal and without pain . . . but it’ll be complete if you’ve given your life to Christ.}

^{For those of you who will be in worship at the Mt. Laurel Church of God this coming Sunday, August 4, Pastor Dale will be bringing the message from God to you from John 6:24-35.}

^{Pastor Dale}

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this message with anyone you choose. And if you'd like to receive PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send an email to (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.