One of my school teachers once told me to stop trying to write such perfect essays. The time I was taking to make my work perfect meant I never really finished. In fact, I was often giving up halfway through because it was too hard. My teacher told me that if I accepted that my work would never be totally perfect, I would be able to write more freely and grow more in what I did.

Paul gave an even better reason to stop trying to be perfect in our own strength: it can make us forget how much we need Jesus.

Paul learned this the hard way. After years trying to perfectly follow God’s ways on his own, Jesus changed everything (GAL. 1:11-16). Paul realised that if his own efforts were enough to be right with God, “then there was no need for Christ to die” (2:21 NLT). Only by letting go of—or, dying to—self-reliance, could he know Jesus living in him (V.20). Only in his imperfection could he live in God’s perfect power.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be bothered when we get things wrong (V.17); but it does mean we should stop relying on ourselves to grow spiritually (V.20).

In this lifetime, we will always be works in progress. But as we continue to realise how much we need Jesus, He will work in us (EPH. 3:17). In Him we are free to grow ever deeper in the love “too great” to ever “understand fully” (V.19 NLT).

By: Monica La Rose

To Pray About . . .

Jesus, I’m sorry for often trying to do better on my own. Help me to rely on You instead and to rest in the work You are doing to change me.