Seeking Jesus First Sep. 25, 2025
The LORD has destined us for complete maturity.
“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that? You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48, AMP)
We have been predestined to be children of God, sons of God, carrying His divine nature. We love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This demonstrates that we are children of God. We become children by being “born again” through faith in Christ Jesus (John3:16-18). However, the demonstration of our faith is manifest in love for each other.
Everyone experiences both sunshine and rain according to The Father’s pleasure and good will for us. It takes sunshine and rain to plant and to harvest. Everything that is needed for us to prosper has been placed in the earth. We will encounter persecution and trials in the earth as well. Everything you need to grow in faith, hope and love is provided for us. This enables us to become strong in spirit like Jesus did (Luke 1:80 and Luke 2:40).
Therefore, we walk by faith, obeying the Word and following the Spirit. We are uniquely empowered by the grace of God, the Spirit of God and the Word of God to reach full maturity of godliness in mind and character. We are able to reach the proper height of virtue and integrity.
We are commanded to be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love just as Christ Jesus has loved us (Ephesians 5:1-2) Paul commands in his letters to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 11:1). We are told to do this because it is possible in Christ to do it. We are in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us the wisdom of God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). And we are told by Jesus Christ Himself, “Only believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
So follow Jesus Christ and grow, love, give and lead.