Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

When doing a bible search on the word perfect, this is the suggested verse.

While I can accept that God is perfect, how do I get there because I have failed so miserably my whole life, including the time I have spent believing by faith in Christ?

What does it mean to be perfect?

Deuteronomy 32:4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

1 Corinthians 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Positionally we are perfected because we stand on The Rock and are not hiding behind Him.

“Adam, where are you?”

Psalm 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

Psalm 101:2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Of these four examples I have a deeper appreciation for Mary’s thoughts.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

1

Strong’s Number: g4820

Greek: sumballo

Ponder: “to put one thing with another in considering circumstances,” (third tense)

Mary had been told by the angel Gabriel that she would have a virgin birth. Now she has heard the witness of these shepherds that an angel had announced that her son is the Christ. She no longer was alone in this very personal and profound pronouncement.

It is one thing to know a thing but to discover we are not alone in this knowledge is comforting.

To my brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not alone. Take comfort in that.