20/09/2025
" Dear prayer partners,
I hope and pray that you are doing well and growing in the grace of Christ. This is not merely a greeting, but my heartfelt desire for you. Of even greater significance, this is also God’s great desire and purpose for you.
In Romans 8:29, Paul wrote, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
How should we respond to this great truth? The answer is found in Matthew 5:48, where Jesus said, “You are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Considered outside of its context, this demand should shake us to the core because we know that none of us are perfect or will be perfect until the day we stand before God in glory.
However, it will not trouble the believer who understands the grace of God in Christ. When we become convinced that we are fully and immutably loved and accepted in Christ, we can strive for greater sanctification, even perfection, because we know our performance in no way determines our standing before God.
We are loved even when we fail, even when we fall.
When I was a little boy, I admired those circus performers who walked from one high pole to another on a tightrope. It seemed exhilarating but far too dangerous to attempt. However, I thought I could manage it, even enjoy it, if there was a safety net below the tightrope.
Similarly, we can attempt Christlikeness, even to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect, when we are convinced the grace of God will always catch us.
Be encouraged. You are greatly loved.
Learn to walk in that love and aspire to grow in sanctification without fear.
Set your goals extremely high — even to be conformed to Christ and perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect — because your standing and worth before God are not determined by whether you attain them.
Christ settled that issue long ago on Calvary.
Your brother,
Paul"
