Sunday Thought – 18.08.24

When doing DIY there are times when we might accept that work is “good enough” or even “the best that I can manage” as opposed to striving for perfection. This is very different to God’s requirements of humanity according to the Bible: anything short of perfection precludes us from his presence. Christians believe that this is not the end of the story however for while “There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” the message of hope is that “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (NIV, Romans 3:22-24).

To paraphrase, Jesus acted as a saviour to pay the price humanity could not pay to make people perfect in God’s sight. This doesn’t mean that Christians are or act perfectly, more that they become a ‘work in progress’ towards perfection: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (NIV, Hebrews 10:25).

Are you trying to be “good enough” by yourself or accepting the offer to be made perfect through Jesus’ workmanship?

Prayer Points for the Week:

• Pray for the students making decisions about their future in the light of exam results.
• Pray that the mpox epidemic wouldn’t spread further and that countries would work together against it.
• Please pray for the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. For peace; for aid to get through to those in need; for those mourning the loss of loved ones.